After a lengthy battle with injuries over the last two years, NBA legend Steve Nash called time on his career on Saturday by announcing his retirement.
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With spells with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and most notably the Phoenix Suns, the 41-year-old has been credited with revolutionising the point guard position.
Having successfully led the memorable fast-tempo offense by coach Mike D’Antoni, Nash’s name is involved in numerous conversations about records, but his influence went far beyond just statistics.
Nash also had an impact with his style of play, and as noted this week by various experts it has had an influence on the point guards around the league today.
Many have mentioned Stephen Curry as his “heir apparent,” and it is clear to see how he has benefited from watching Nash and he was amongst those to wish him well shortly after the news broke.
Curry’s ball-handling skills, vision, ability to assist and finishing at the rim with either hand are all comparable to that of Nash.
Further, while Curry is considered one of the best shooters the game has ever seen, Nash wasn’t bad either and he excelled from beyond the arc when he chose to shoot. That is yet another area in which they were both highly effective.
The Canadian native sealed back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006, something that might be on the horizon for Curry over the next two years. But Curry will be desperate to prevail where Nash failed in terms of winning a championship.
While the similarities between the pair fall short of the level of fascination that fans had in Kobe Bryant‘s game being molded by Michael Jordan, there are certainly enough characteristics there to suggest that Curry is a modern-day version of the former Suns star.
Curry is more athletic and perhaps quicker than Nash, but the veteran point guard didn’t allow that to inhibit him as he made up for his lack of height with skill on the ball and his overall basketball IQ.
The links don’t just end there though, as after missing out on acquiring Curry in the 2009 draft after a deal with the Warriors fell through, there is a Suns influence at Golden State this season with Steve Kerr, Alvin Gentry and others who were involved in Phoenix back in 2007 to 2010.
Curry makes no secret of the fact that Nash was an inspiration for him, and their ability to link talent and modesty is undoubtedly another trait that they share.
Both also share an ability to make those around them better, and although Curry won’t compare himself to Nash, he certainly has the time and ability to at least match his feats as he looks to carry the torch for the revolutionary guards in the NBA.