Stephen Curry Pushed Steve Nash into Retirement
In the latest episode of Mind the Game, co-hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash, Stephen Curry shared a touching story about Nash's decision to retire. Nash recalled how a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors made him realize his body could no longer keep up.
Nash’s Last Realization on the Court
During the match, the Warriors scored around 50 points in the first quarter. Nash described how Curry was everywhere on the court, while Nash felt physically drained: "My back was shot, everything was out of whack, I was dragging myself, and Steve Kerr was making them play everything off of me."
"Three or four days later, the decision was made: I called Mitch Kupchak to tell him my decision. Steph, you’ve kicked me out of basketball (laughs)."
The Generational Shift in the NBA
This moment reflects a broader shift between two basketball generations: the playmaker-artist of the 2000s and the revolutionary shooter who changed the NBA. Nash’s admission highlights Curry’s impact on the game and its players.
Post-Retirement Collaboration
After retiring in 2015, Steve Nash served as a player development consultant until 2020. Though not a full-time staff member, he worked closely with players, especially guards and point guards, sharing his expertise.
"He became a consultant. In this position, he wasn’t part of the full-time staff but regularly worked with players."
Author's summary: Stephen Curry’s dynamic play pushed Steve Nash to retire, symbolizing a key generational shift, and later led to Nash mentoring players as a development consultant.