Steve Nash Credits Steph Curry for His Retirement Decision
On a recent episode of the Mind the Game podcast, Steve Nash shared a memorable story with LeBron James and Steph Curry about the moment he realized his NBA career was over—and how Curry played a role in that realization.
The 2014-15 Preseason Turning Point
The story dates back to the 2014-15 preseason when Nash and the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Golden State Warriors in Ontario, California. The Warriors dominated early, scoring 39 points in the first quarter and eventually winning 116–75. Curry scored 12 points in the first 2:30 minutes and finished with 25 points in only 24 minutes.
Nash’s Physical Struggles Against Curry
Already dealing with persistent back problems, Nash knew he couldn’t match Curry’s speed and agility. Nash recalled,
“I’m guarding Steph. They put up like 50 in the first quarter—maybe it was 45, but it felt like a 50-piece. I couldn’t have stopped him if I was 100 percent.”
Within days, Nash came to terms with his condition and impending retirement.
The Retirement Decision
“Man, literally like three more, four more days of thinking on it, I was like… yeah. I think it’s time. You put me out!”
In fact, Nash had already announced in July 2014 that the upcoming season would be his last. He only played three preseason games before his back injury resurfaced, including the game against the Warriors. On October 23, 2014, just days before the regular season began, Nash was ruled out for the entire season and never returned to play in the NBA.
Author’s summary: Steve Nash humorously credits Steph Curry's dominant play during the 2014 preseason as the final nudge that led him to retire from the NBA due to mounting physical challenges.