Stephen Curry pushed Steve Nash into retirement

Stephen Curry Pushed Steve Nash Into Retirement

In the latest episode of Mind the Game, the podcast co-hosted by LeBron James and Steve Nash, Stephen Curry shared a memorable and heartfelt story about the former Suns point guard. Nash described a preseason game against the Warriors that made him realize his body had reached its limit.

How Stephen Curry Highlighted His Impact on the New Generation

During a friendly match against Golden State, Curry dominated the game, scoring around 50 points in the first quarter alone. Nash recalled:

“He was running everywhere, my back was shot, everything was out of whack, I was dragging myself, and Steve Kerr was making them play everything off of me.”

Just a few days after that game, Nash made a difficult decision:

“I called Mitch Kupchak to tell him my decision. Steph, you’ve kicked me out of basketball (laughs).”

This moment, filled with humility and self-awareness, symbolizes the transition from the 2000s playmaker-artist era to the new generation of shooters revolutionizing the NBA.

Steve Nash's Role After Retirement

Retired in 2015
Worked as a player development consultant from 2015 to 2020
Not a full-time staff member but regularly collaborated with players, especially guards and point guards

After stepping away from playing, Nash continued to contribute to the game by mentoring up-and-coming players.

Author’s summary: Stephen Curry’s dominant play forced Steve Nash to retire, marking a generational shift, after which Nash continued shaping NBA players as a consultant.

Ninety-Nine Yards — 2025-11-06