Two-time MVP and one of the greatest handlers of the basketball to ever grace the league, Steve Nash, has announced his retirement from the NBA and subsequently ending his 19-year career.
The 41-year-old had unfortunately been crippled by injuries over the past few seasons, which saw him only take the court in 65 games, and none in 2014-15.
Nash informed the basketball community of his retirement from the game via Twitter and also through a letter on The Players’ Tribune.
“I will likely never play basketball again,” Nash wrote.
“I already miss the game deeply, but I’m also really excited to learn to do something else.”
The Phoenix Suns took Steve Nash as the 15th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. Following two slow seasons he moved to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998-99 to partner up with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley.
Nash rose to prominence over in Dallas, helping the team reach the Western Conference Finals, however his re-signing with the Suns seemed imminent.
On his return to Phoenix, Nash fell agonisingly short of the NBA finals for a number of years. In this tenure, he became one of only ten players in the long history of the NBA to win back-to-back regular season MVP titles, which he achieved in 2005 and 2006.
“It will always hurt that Phoenix Suns fans didn’t get the championship they deserved during our run. Yes, we had some bad luck but I always look back at it and think, I could’ve made one more shot, or not forced a turnover, or made a better pass,” Nash wrote.
To chase a championship, Nash signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012 as the Lakers dreamed of mounting another title challenge with a team built around superstars Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.
This never eventuated as Nash struggled with injuries and Howard was traded to the Houston Rockets. It couldn’t have turned out worse for the Lakers, who gave up four future draft picks to bring Nash’s talent to LA.
After breaking his leg for the Lakers in his second game for the franchise, nothing was ever the same for Nash and nobody was left surprised when he made the retirement announcement on Saturday.
His success within the sport has led to two consecutive number one NBA draft picks from Canada, Anthony Bennett in 2013 and Andrew Wiggins in 2014.
Steve Nash leaves behind an incredible legacy.
Two-time MVP recipient, eight-time All-Star, third all-time assists (10 335), and being recognised as one of the best (if not the best) Canadian basketball players of all-time.
You can read more of Nash’s letter here.
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