Steve Nash facts for kids
Nash in 2023
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 7 February 1974 Johannesburg, South Africa |
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| Nationality | Canadian | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | St. Michaels (Victoria, British Columbia) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 178 lb (81 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Santa Clara (1992–1996) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1996–2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 2020–2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Phoenix Suns | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2004 | Dallas Mavericks | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2012 | Phoenix Suns | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | Brooklyn Nets | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 17,387 (14.3 ppg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 3,642 (3.0 rpg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 10,335 (8.5 apg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Stephen John Nash (born February 7, 1974) is a Canadian basketball coach and former player. He was most recently the head coach for the Brooklyn Nets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Steve Nash played 18 seasons in the NBA. He was an NBA All-Star eight times. He was also named the NBA Most Valuable Player twice while playing for the Phoenix Suns.
Nash grew up playing many different sports. After a great high school basketball career in British Columbia, he earned a scholarship. This scholarship was to Santa Clara University in California. During his four years with the Broncos, his team played in the NCAA tournament three times. He was also named the West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year twice. Nash finished his college career as the team's all-time leader in assists. He was the 15th player picked in the 1996 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns.
He didn't play much at first and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. By his fourth season with the Mavericks, he was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game. He also earned his first All-NBA selection. With Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals. This was in the 2003 season. After the 2004 season, he became a free agent. He then returned to the Phoenix Suns.
In the 2005 season, Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference finals. He was named the league's MVP. He won MVP again in the 2006 season. Many people think he is one of the best point guards ever. Nash led the league in assists and free throw percentage several times. He is also one of the top players in NBA history for three-point shooting, free throw shooting, and total assists. In 2018, he was added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Nash is also known for helping others. In 2006, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He received the Order of Canada in 2007. He was also given an honorary degree from the University of Victoria in 2008. Nash has been a co-owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC soccer team since 2011. From 2012 to 2019, he was the general manager for the Canada men's national basketball team. He played for this team from 1991 to 2003. He played in one Olympics and was named FIBA AmeriCup MVP twice. In 2021, Nash was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Start
Steve Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 7, 1974. His mother, Jean, was Welsh, and his father, John, was English. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. They later settled in Victoria, British Columbia. This means he has both British and Canadian citizenship. His father used to play professional soccer around the world.
Nash often played soccer and ice hockey with his younger brother, Martin. He didn't start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13 years old. But in eighth grade, he told his mom he would play in the NBA and become a star. He lived near future NHL stars Russ and Geoff Courtnall. They used to babysit him and played soccer coached by Nash's father.
High School Basketball Success
Nash first went to Mount Douglas Secondary School. But his grades started to drop. So, his parents sent him to St. Michaels University School. This was a private boarding school in Victoria. There, he was a star in basketball, soccer, and rugby union. In his final year of high school basketball, he was amazing. He averaged 21.3 points, 11.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game. In the 1991–92 season, he led his team to win the British Columbia AAA provincial championship. He was also named the province's Player of the Year.
College Career at Santa Clara
After high school, Nash's coach sent videos to over 30 American universities. But no one recruited him until Santa Clara coach Dick Davey saw his video. After watching Nash play in person, Davey was very impressed. He said he hoped no one else would notice Nash. However, Davey also told Nash he was "the worst defensive player" he had ever seen.
Nash received a scholarship to Santa Clara for the 1992–93 season. The Broncos had not been in the NCAA tournament for five years. But Nash changed that. He led them to win the WCC tournament. They then upset the No. 2 seeded Arizona in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In that game, Nash made six straight free throws in the last 30 seconds. Even though they lost the next game, it was a very successful season.
The next season, the team struggled. But they bounced back in the 1994–95 season. Nash was named Conference Player of the Year. The Broncos won the WCC again. Nash led the league in scoring and assists. They returned to the NCAA tournament but lost. After this season, Nash thought about becoming a professional. But he decided against it because he likely wouldn't be a first-round pick in the 1995 NBA draft.
In the 1995–96 season, Nash started to get attention from national media and scouts. He had spent the summer improving his skills. He played with the Canadian national team. He also worked out with NBA players Jason Kidd and Gary Payton. Santa Clara won the WCC title again. Nash was named Conference Player of the Year for the second year in a row. He scored 28 points in a big upset win over Maryland. But then they were eliminated by Kansas.
Nash finished his college career as Santa Clara's all-time leader in assists (510). He also led in free throw percentage (.862). And he led in three-pointers made and attempted (263–656). He is still third on the school's all-time scoring list (1,689 points). In September 2006, Santa Clara retired his jersey number 11. He was the first student-athlete there to get that honor.
Professional NBA Career
After college, Nash was picked 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1996 NBA draft. Fans booed the choice because he wasn't well-known. He hadn't played in a major college conference. But Suns assistant coach Donnie Nelson knew Nash from high school. Nelson convinced the team to draft him.
Phoenix Suns: Early Years (1996–1998)
In his first two NBA seasons, Nash didn't play much. He was behind star point guards Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell, and Jason Kidd. Johnson and Cassell had played in the NBA Finals. Kidd was already an All-Star.
In his first year, Nash played only 10.5 minutes per game. In his second year, his playing time increased. He was even 13th in the league for three-point shooting. But his time with the Suns didn't last long. Donnie Nelson became assistant general manager for the Dallas Mavericks. He convinced his father, Don Nelson, to get Nash. After the 1998 NBA draft, Nash was traded to the Mavericks. The Suns received other players and a draft pick.
Dallas Mavericks: Becoming a Star (1998–2004)
In Dallas, Nash became a top point guard. This started a decade where he was one of the best players. In his first year with the Mavericks (the shortened 1999 season), he started all 40 games he played. He averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. The Mavericks didn't make the playoffs.
In the 2000 season, the team got much better. Nash missed 25 games with an ankle injury. But he came back strong. He finished the season averaging 8.6 points and 4.9 assists. His teammate Dirk Nowitzki was becoming a star. Veteran Michael Finley was playing at an All-Star level. The new owner, Mark Cuban, brought new energy. Nash now had a great environment to succeed.
In the 2001 season, Nash had a breakout year. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists. With Nash leading the offense, the Mavericks made the playoffs. This was their first time in over ten years. Dallas lost in the Western Conference Semifinals to the San Antonio Spurs. But it was the start of a great run for Nash and the Mavericks.
In the 2002 season, Nash set career highs. He averaged 17.9 points and 7.7 assists. He earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game and on the All-NBA Third Team. He was now a true All-Star. He was part of the Dallas Mavericks "Big Three" with Finley and Nowitzki. Dallas made the playoffs again. But they lost in the Semifinals to the Sacramento Kings.
Nash played similarly well in the 2003 season. He averaged 17.7 points and 7.3 assists. He again earned All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors. Nash and Nowitzki led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals. They lost to the eventual NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs. This was only the second time the team reached the Conference Finals.
In the 2004 season, the Mavericks added more offensive players. But Nash's scoring went down. He was not chosen for the All-Star team. However, he had new career highs in assists per game (8.8) and free throw accuracy (91.6%). In the 2004 playoffs, Dallas lost to the Sacramento Kings.
After the 2004 season, Nash became a free agent. He wanted a long-term contract with Dallas. But owner Mark Cuban wanted to build around the younger Nowitzki. Cuban offered Nash a shorter deal. The Phoenix Suns offered Nash a six-year, $63 million contract. Nash was sad to leave Dallas. But Cuban didn't match the Suns' offer. So, Nash signed with the Suns for the 2005 season. He would go on to win two MVP awards with Phoenix.
Return to Phoenix: MVP Years (2004–2012)
Nash joined a Suns team with young talents like Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, and Amar'e Stoudemire. The season before Nash arrived, the Suns had a poor record of 29 wins and 53 losses. Many expected them to have another bad season. Coach Mike D'Antoni liked a fast-paced style of basketball. This style needed quick and athletic players who could outrun and outshoot opponents.
Nash knew this style well. His teammates were also very athletic. This combination led to the Suns having the best record in the NBA, 62 wins and 20 losses. They also scored 110.4 points per game, the highest in a decade. Nash was key to this change. He averaged 11.5 assists per game. He also shot 50.2% from the field and 43.1% from three-point range. He beat Shaquille O'Neal to win the 2005 NBA MVP award. He was the first Canadian to win this honor. He was also only the third point guard ever to be named MVP.
In the 2005 playoffs, Phoenix easily beat the Memphis Grizzlies. Then they faced the Dallas Mavericks. Nash led the Suns to win that series. The Suns reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1993. But they lost to the San Antonio Spurs, who went on to win the NBA Championship.
Second MVP Award (2005–06)
In the next season, Stoudemire had a serious knee injury. Johnson and Quentin Richardson were traded. People didn't expect the Suns to do well again. But Nash kept the fast-paced offense going. The team still had a good record of 54 wins and 28 losses. They won their division title. On January 2, 2006, Nash had 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 22 assists in a game. The Suns were again the highest-scoring team. Seven players on the team averaged double figures in points. Nash was voted to start for the 2006 Western All-Star team.
Nash had career highs in points (18.8) and rebounds (4.2). He also had great shooting percentages. He led the league with 10.5 assists per game. Nash was named the league MVP for the second year in a row. In the 2006 playoffs, Phoenix came back from a 3–1 deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers. They won the series 4–3. They then needed seven games to beat the Los Angeles Clippers. But for the second year in a row, the Suns lost in the Conference Finals. This time, they lost to Nash's former team, Dallas.
Continuing Excellence (2006–08)
In the 2007 season, Nash had another amazing year. He averaged 18.6 points and a career-high 11.6 assists per game. He was the first player since Magic Johnson in 1990 to average 18 points and 11 assists. Nash received the most votes for first-team All-NBA. His teammate Stoudemire also made the first team. Nash almost won MVP for a third time. He came in second to Dirk Nowitzki. In the 2007 playoffs, the Suns beat the Lakers. But they lost to the Spurs in the Conference Semifinals.
Nash played 81 games in the 2008 season. The Western Conference was very tough that year. He led the Suns to 55 wins. His shooting remained excellent. He shot over 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw line. This is known as the 50–40–90 club. He was named an All-Star for the sixth time. However, the Suns lost in the first round of the 2008 playoffs to the San Antonio Spurs. This was the third time in four years. Nash was later named to the All-NBA Second Team.
Later Years in Phoenix (2008–12)
Before the 2009 season, coach D'Antoni left. Terry Porter became the new coach. He wanted a more defensive style. The Suns struggled to adapt. Even after trading players, the team continued to have problems. Porter was replaced by Alvin Gentry in February. But the Suns missed the playoffs for the first time since Nash returned.
Nash and the Suns started the 2010 season very well. They won 8 of their first 9 games. Nash had two games with 20 assists. He was named the starting point guard for the West in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. The Suns were the highest-scoring team for the fifth year in a row. They earned the third seed in the conference for the 2010 playoffs.
The Suns beat the Portland Trail Blazers and then swept the Spurs. They met the defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the Conference Finals. The Suns lost the first two games. But they won the next two to tie the series. The Lakers won Game 5 with a last-second shot. Kobe Bryant's 37 points in Game 6 finished the series. The Suns were defeated.
The Suns made big changes in the 2011 season. Stoudemire left for New York. Other players were traded. The team struggled to win games. For the second time since Nash came back, the Suns missed the playoffs.
In February 2012, Nash was named to his eighth All-Star Game. He was leading the NBA in assists per game. On April 21, 2012, Nash passed Oscar Robertson for career assists. The Suns missed the playoffs again. Nash finished the season averaging 12.5 points and 10.7 assists. He shot 53.2% from the field, tying his career high.
Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2015)
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On July 11, 2012, the Los Angeles Lakers got Nash in a trade. Nash also thought about joining New York or Toronto. But he felt Los Angeles was best for his family. He changed his jersey number to 10. His usual number 13 was retired by the Lakers for Wilt Chamberlain. Nash, a big soccer fan, chose 10 to honor soccer playmakers like Glenn Hoddle and Lionel Messi. He was entering his 17th NBA season. People worried about his defense and his back health.
In his second game of the 2013 season, Nash hurt his left leg. He was out for almost seven weeks. He reunited with coach D'Antoni, who became the Lakers coach. On December 22, Nash returned. He helped the Lakers win an overtime game. On January 8, 2013, Nash made an assist to become the fifth player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career assists.
Nash struggled with injuries and fitting into the team. He missed the last eight games of the season with a hip injury. The Lakers made the playoffs but were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Nash missed the last two games of that series. He called it "the most frustrating" season of his career. He missed a career-high 32 games. He averaged his fewest assists (6.7) since 1999–2000.
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During the 2014 season, Nash continued to have nerve problems from his leg injury. In November 2013, he was out for at least two weeks. He returned on February 4, 2014. On his 40th birthday, February 7, he scored a season-high 19 points. On March 13, Nash was ruled out for the rest of the season. He had recurring nerve problems. But he returned on March 21 after another player got injured.
In July 2014, Nash said the 2015 season would be his last. During the preseason, he had back pain. He hurt his back more while lifting luggage. On October 23, he was ruled out for the season. This was less than a week before his 19th NBA season was supposed to start. He said it was disappointing not to be able to play. He wanted to focus on his long-term health.
Retirement and Consulting
Nash announced his retirement from playing on March 21, 2015. He had been asked to play one more season with the Dallas Mavericks. But he declined due to his health.
On September 25, 2015, Nash became a part-time consultant for the Golden State Warriors. In his first season with them, the Warriors had a record-breaking 73–9 season. But they lost in the 2016 NBA Finals. The next season, the Warriors won the 2017 NBA Finals. This gave Nash his first NBA championship, even though he wasn't playing.
On March 31, 2018, it was announced that Nash would be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was formally inducted on September 7, 2018. In October 2021, Nash was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. This honored him as one of the league’s greatest players ever.
Coaching Career with Brooklyn Nets
On September 3, 2020, Steve Nash was announced as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
On March 3, 2021, Nash was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for February. He was the first Nets head coach to win this award since his former teammate Jason Kidd in 2014. Nash led the Nets to a 9–4 record in February. Nash led the Nets to a 48–24 record in his first season. He finished sixth in the NBA Coach of the Year voting.
On November 1, 2022, Nash and the Nets decided to part ways. This happened due to issues with the team's players.
Playing for Team Canada
In the early 1990s, Nash was cut from the Canadian junior national team. At age 17, he was the youngest player on Team Canada at the Summer Universiade. The team won a silver medal there.
In 1993, while in college, he played for the senior national team. He competed in the Canada Games and the Summer Universiade. He won a bronze medal at the Canada Games. He won a silver medal at the Summer Universiade, losing to Team USA.
At the 1999 Tournament of the Americas, Nash led Canada to a silver medal. This qualified the team for the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. He was named the tournament MVP. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Nash led Canada to win their group. They beat Spain and had a surprising win over Yugoslavia. Nash scored 26 points, with eight rebounds and eight assists in that game.
Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals by France. Nash was very disappointed. He said, "It hurts a lot. I feel like I let everybody down." But he also hoped kids in Canada would be inspired to play basketball. Canada finished seventh in the tournament. Nash's Olympic performance made him a star in Canada.
Nash led Team Canada again for the 2004 Summer Olympics qualifying tournament. He led the tournament in assists and was named MVP. But Canada finished fourth and missed the Olympics. That was the last time Nash played for Canada. He was reportedly upset when coach Jay Triano was fired in 2004. In 2007, he said he would not play for Canada anymore.
On May 8, 2012, Nash became the general manager of the Canadian senior national team. Three months later, he hired Triano back as head coach. On March 5, 2019, Nash moved to a senior advisor role. His former teammate, Rowan Barrett, took over as general manager.
Steve Nash's Playing Style
Nash was known for his amazing playmaking, ball-handling, and shooting skills. He led the league in assists five times. He averaged 11.5 assists per game in 2004–05, 10.5 in 2005–06, 11.6 in 2006–07, 11.0 in 2009–10, and 11.4 in 2010–11. He also won the NBA Skills Challenge in 2005 and 2010.
As of 2013, he had a 90.4% career free throw shooting average. This was once the best in NBA history. He also had a 42.8% career three-point shooting average, which is eighth-best ever. He is among the top 10 players in NBA history for total assists, assists per game, and three-pointers made. He is second in regular season point–assist double-doubles since the 1986–87 season.
In the 2005–06 season, Nash became the fourth player in NBA history to join the 50–40–90 club. This means he shot 50% or better from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free throw line. Only Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, and Mark Price had done this before him. Nash achieved this feat three more times. He has more 50–40–90 seasons than any other player.
Nash is one of only three point guards to win the MVP award multiple times. He is also one of four guards to win back-to-back MVPs. In 2016, ESPN.com ranked Nash as the seventh-best point guard of all time. In a 2007 survey, 85% of NBA general managers voted Nash as the best point guard. In 2009, he was rated the best passer and the player with the best basketball IQ.
Nash was especially good at the pick and roll play. He used it well with Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas. Later, he used it with Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion in Phoenix. When Nash returned to Phoenix in 2004, he helped the Suns improve greatly. They went from 29 wins to 62 wins. He won his first MVP award that season. The next season, he again led the Suns to the conference finals. This was despite injuries to their big players. Nash also helped seven of his teammates achieve career-high scoring. With Nash as point guard, the Suns led the league in field goal percentage for five seasons.
In 2021, The Athletic ranked Nash as the 38th greatest player in NBA history. This was to celebrate the NBA's 75th Anniversary.
Off the Court
Personal Life
In 2001, Nash met Alejandra Amarilla. They married in June 2005. They had twin daughters and a son. Later, Nash announced they were separating. In March 2016, Nash got engaged to Lilla Frederick, a former volleyball player. They married in September 2016. They have a son and a daughter.
Nash's younger brother, Martin, played professional soccer. He played for the Vancouver Whitecaps. He also played 30 games for the Canadian national soccer team. Their younger sister, Joann, was captain of the University of Victoria women's soccer team. She is married to former ice hockey player Manny Malhotra. Nash is the godfather of Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett.
Nash has a medical condition called spondylolisthesis. This causes muscle tightness and back pain. Because of this, he would often lie on his back instead of sitting on the bench during games. This helped keep his muscles from stiffening.
Charity Work
In 2001, Nash started the Steve Nash Foundation. This foundation helps kids by funding projects that support children affected by poverty, illness, or neglect. It also creates chances for education, play, and empowerment. The foundation focuses on communities in Arizona and British Columbia. It was given charitable status in 2004.
Nash also supports the Steve Nash Youth Basketball League in British Columbia. Over 10,000 kids have joined this league. He also got involved with GuluWalk. This group raises money for children affected by war in northern Uganda. In September 2007, Nash and Yao Ming played in a charity basketball game in China. It raised $2.5 million for Chinese children in need.
In May 2006, Time magazine named Nash one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was praised for being unselfish on the court and a "nice guy." He even paid for a new heart ward for children in a hospital in Paraguay. On December 28, 2007, Nash received Canada's highest civilian honor, the Order of Canada. On June 3, 2008, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2009, he received an honorary degree from the University of Victoria. This was for his sports achievements and charity work.
Soccer Interests
Nash grew up playing soccer. He once said he could have played professionally if he had focused on it. He still loves the sport. When Dirk Nowitzki came to the NBA, he and Nash became good friends. They enjoyed watching soccer together. Nash is friends with many professional soccer players.
During his off-season, he has trained with the New York Red Bulls soccer team. Nash's father was born in Tottenham, London. So, Nash is a lifelong fan of the Tottenham Hotspur soccer club. He has said he would like to own a small part of the club after his basketball career. He said he just wants to see Spurs succeed. Nash is also a fan of Spain's Barcelona.
In July 2013, Nash trained with the Italian soccer club Inter Milan. In 2015, he trained with the New York Cosmos B. In 2023, Nash played in The Soccer Tournament as a guest of Como.
Other Interests
Nash and a partner opened the first Steve Nash Sports Club in Vancouver in 2007. It's a large fitness facility that reflects Nash's own fitness ideas.
In 2007, Nash wrote and produced a short commercial for Nike. It was called "Training Day" and became popular online. Nash also started a film production company with his cousin, Ezra Holland. They plan to make independent films. Their first project was a commercial for Nike's eco-friendly Trash Talk shoe. Nash wore these shoes, which were made from recycled materials. The ad was a funny remake of "The Six Million Dollar Man" TV show.
Nash and Holland also directed a documentary called Into the Wind. It was about Canadian athlete Terry Fox. In October 2013, Nash appeared in a music video for the band Thirty Seconds to Mars. In 2013, Nash was named one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants.
At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Nash made history. He was the first NBA player to carry the torch and light the Olympic cauldron.
Nash is also known for his strong opinions. He spoke out against the Iraq War in 2003. He wore a special T-shirt to the NBA All-Star Game that said: "No war – Shoot for peace." He also criticized a law in Arizona that he felt could lead to unfair treatment based on race.
Images for kids
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Nash with then-teammate Shaquille O'Neal
