In a recent episode of the Mind The Game podcast, Steve Nash opened up about a deeply personal experience involving Stephen Curry that influenced his decision to retire from the NBA. The former Canadian point guard described a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors where he was assigned to guard the then-rising star from San Francisco.
That night, Nash recognized he was no longer the athlete he once was. The encounter triggered reflections on his physical state and career future.
“My nerves were shot, and I just couldn’t recover. I thought, ‘I have to figure this out.’ It had been a week since my last game. We were going to play them in the preseason, and I kept thinking, ‘I have to play through the injury. And if not, what’s the point?’”
Curry, laughing, recalled that night in Ontario, California, as Nash described how difficult it was to keep up with him. The young guard was already displaying remarkable skill on the court.
“We got on the court, and I was guarding Steph. I think they scored like 50 points in the first quarter — maybe 45, but it felt like 50. My back was shot, my body was done.”
This episode highlighted a pivotal moment that marked the winding down of Nash’s NBA playing days.
Author's summary: Steve Nash’s encounter guarding Stephen Curry in a preseason game revealed his physical decline, leading him to reflect deeply and ultimately retire from the NBA.