Stephen Curry Pushed Steve Nash into Retirement
In a recent episode of Mind the Game, the podcast hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash, Stephen Curry shared a touching and humorous story from Nash himself. The former Suns point guard reflected on a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, which made him realize his body had reached its limit.
How Stephen Curry Revealed His Impact on the New Generation
The turning point came during a friendly match against Golden State. Nash said,
“They put like 50 points on us in the first quarter. He was running everywhere, my back was shot, everything was out of whack, I was dragging myself, and Steve Kerr was making them play everything off of me.”
A few days later, Nash made a tough decision. He recalled,
“I called Mitch Kupchak to tell him my decision. Steph, you’ve kicked me out of basketball (laughs).”
This candid moment highlights the generational shift between the playmaker-artist of the 2000s and the shooter who transformed the NBA. The respect between the two players led to a collaboration soon after Nash’s retirement.
Steve Nash's Role After Retirement
After retiring in 2015, Nash became a player development consultant from 2015 to 2020. Although not part of the full-time staff, he regularly worked with players, focusing mainly on guards and point guards.
Author's summary: Stephen Curry’s dynamic play prompted Steve Nash’s retirement, marking a symbolic generational change and leading Nash to mentor rising NBA talents post-retirement.