Remembering Steve Nash: The center of the Suns' universe

Even though his prime didn’t coincide with the time that my basketball interests peaked, I’m upset that we won’t get to watch Steve Nash this season due to a season-ending, recurring back injury.

The Wall Street Journal even went as far as to point out a statistical category in which Nash is Michael Jordan’s equal: The two are tied with 118 points per 100 possessions, a statistic topped only by five players, none of whom are active, all of whom are in the Hall of Fame.

If he retired today, Nash would rank third all-time on the NBA’s career assists leaderboard.

He was humble in his exit from Phoenix, a city he embraced as his second home. He left for Los Angeles in pursuit of an ever-elusive NBA title, which, unless he signs with Cleveland next season, isn’t very likely.

His stint with the Lakers was such a disaster that Grantland took advantage of Nash’s injury-plagued 2013-14 season to do a documentary chronicling his return, speculating that his career was nearing the end of the road.

I’m not convinced, though. A quick glimpse at his highlights in purple and gold shows his trademark passing ability, left-handed layups, and lights-out shooting stroke, even if his 40-year-old body isn’t as nimble as it once was.

Despite the struggles of head coach Mike D’Antoni to replicate his “Seven Seconds or Less” offense and the ego battles between Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, Nash remained positive. However, his competitive soul didn’t allow him to mask his frustration and disappointment at not being able to contribute like he once could.

Every athlete has to deal with the fact that one day, he’ll have to clean out his locker for good. Some are able to handle it much better than others. Outspoken personalities like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal can still find airtime behind the anchor desk at TNT’s “Inside the NBA” pregame show. Jordan is, well, Jordan — few people can celebrate their 50th birthdays by hosting basketball camps for kids and taking a moment to remind everyone that he can, in fact, still dunk.

It’s not easy to face retirement, and Nash is looking at a farewell that, from a personal perspective, might feel worse than how Derek Jeter felt about playing his last baseball game at Fenway Park.

But I’m worried that years from now, Nash won’t be properly revered for the impact he had on the game of basketball, on an international level.

He became an instant sensation for his flowing, '70s-style hair, as well as his flashy assists, ranging from behind-the-back and through-the-legs passes to no-look feeds that simply defied explanation. He left defenders puzzled on multiple occasions, as he passed his way out of double- and triple-team traps that seemed guaranteed to induce a turnover, only to find an oncoming O’Neal or Amare Stoudemire barreling down the lane to complete the play with a ferocious dunk.

Part Tony Parker, part Ray Allen, he’s what every kid playing pick-up basketball aspired to be — he's more than just a floor general; he's an offensive mastermind whose court vision was unparalleled — and he always put his teammates in the best position to score, one of the few true point guards in a league dominated by hybrid “point forwards.”

It made for excellent television highlights, but as effortless as it appeared on screen, the dedication Nash had to his game is something truly special and selfless.

In today’s game, where stars are most concerned with getting the ball, Nash was happy to share it, drawing an extra defender and waiting until exactly the right moment to get his teammates the best possible look at the basket.

He certainly wasn’t afraid to hit clutch shots, either. He hit multiple game-tying and game-winning threes, ranks in the top 10 in three-point field goal percentage with a .428 career mark and boasts a remarkable .904 career free-throw percentage, the best not only among active players, but all-time.

While the news of his injury is disheartening, at the same time, the Canadian point man should be lauded for his longevity. Nash is among an elite group of fewer than 20 players who have played 18 or more NBA seasons.

When I first learned about Goran Dragic, I went on YouTube and looked up his highlight reel from the 2010 Western Conference Semis — a series in which the Suns swept the mighty San Antonio Spurs in four games.

In garbage time of a convincing road victory, Nash checked in for the final minutes of the fourth quarter alongside Dragic, whom then-head coach Alvin Gentry had decided to ride as the hot hand and leave in, while Nash had watched most of the fourth from the bench.

One particular play, though, stood out to me. On the Sun’s final possession of the game, (skip to the 9:10 mark in the video above) the shot clock was still on, preventing Nash from just dribbling out the last 12 seconds of the game. Instead, he circled around the top of the key, and then drove to the basket.

When it seemed like he was about to be swarmed by three defenders, Nash flipped the ball over his shoulder, and behind his back, to a wide-open Dragic, who buried the three for his 26th point of that game, what could very well be considered a metaphorical passing of the torch.

As a Chicago Bulls fan myself, I understand the angst and frustration of Lakers fans not able to see Nash in action, with the last two years of Derrick Rose injuries keeping the 2011 MVP from really getting a chance to even get his career off the ground.

Here’s hoping this isn’t a farewell, but rather a “See you next year, Steve.”

Reach the assistant sports editor at smodrich@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @StefanJModrich

Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepressport on Twitter.

 

---

---

Subscribe to Pressing Matters

Email