On Friday night, Steve Nash became the 14th player to enter the Suns “Ring Of Honor”, and it was well deserved.
Nash hold the Suns franchise records in total assists, 3PTM, 3PTA, 3rd in GP, and 7th in total points.
After returning to the team that drafted him in 1996 – he spent his first two seasons in Phoenix – after a six year stint with the Dallas Mavericks, the Suns were coming off an abysmal 29-53 season the year before.
Loaded with a talented roster, Nash turned the Suns into one of the scariest offensive teams in league history. When I say “scary”, I mean finishing top 3 in PPG and Offensive Rating for six straight seasons. For six straight seasons, the Suns were the most efficient offense in the league and never finished with less than 54 wins – won 60+ games twice – in a season.
With head coach Mike D’antoni, the “7 Seconds Or Less” offense revolutionized the NBA during that time period. And there was no other better player to lead that revolution other than Steve Nash.
Nash was one of the smartest basketball players of our generation. His crafty ball – handling was amazing. Just how he could slither through players 7 or 8 inches taller than him, to either find a teammate that we didn’t even see open on our TV screen, or finish himself with one of the laziest YET, prettiest reverses I’ve ever seen. Nash wasn’t the quickest guard on the floor, but his footwork was some of the best anyone has ever seen at that position.
He was a wizard with the ball. You would lie if you didn’t think for at least one minute that Nash had eyes in the back of his head. Playing basketball at an young age, you’re taught to pass with two hands. No, not Steve Nash. I’m not saying the coaches were wrong, but Steve Nash made one – handed passes look like a thing of beauty, and also easy.
And to top it off, Nash was quite possibly – before Stephen Curry entered the picture – the best pure shooter of all-time. Yes, all-time. Nash was that damn good. If you don’t believe me, check out his stats in the Western Conference Semi-finals series against the Dallas Mavericks.
30 PPG
6 RPG
12 APG
55% FG
42% 3-PT
96% FT
64% TS
During his time in Phoenix, he won back – to – back MVP awards, beating out the likes of Shaquille O’Neal in 2005, and Kobe Bryant in 2006. Many feel Nash didn’t deserve the awards because of the talent he had.
I laugh and say “Bullsh*t”.
Nash is also a four time member of the “50-40-90 Club”. FOUR! The only other player to finish a season with those percentages is Larry Bird…. WITH TWO!
And must I speak about the broken nose, swollen eye, and busted lip Nash suffered in the playoffs during his career with the Suns and continued to put on a show?
Nash was honestly one of a kind. The Phoenix Suns and it’s fans were lucky to have him represent them. And us NBA fans should be lucky to have witnessed it.
I know I am.
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