Steve Nash has 14 true rookie cards and 9 parallel cards. Although there was a dip in his regular season output, Nash's shooting remained sharp; the accuracy of his shooting was on par with his 200506 MVP campaign (shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from the three-point arc, and 90% from the free throw line). It was in Dallas that Nash established himself as a formidable point guard, beginning a decade as one of the game's top players. My heroes were Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson. By his fourth season with the Mavericks, he was voted to his first NBA All-Star Game and earned his first All-NBA selection. Fitness World paid $9 million for the assets, including memberships, and the outstanding $35 million. He had minimal impact and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. [169] Nash also started a film production company together with his cousin, filmmaker Ezra Holland, and intends to produce independent films. Nash spoke on injuring his back, stating: "Being on the court this season has been my top priority, and it is disappointing to not be able to do that right now. Although he still managed to play in 50 games, his effectiveness was limited, and his play was merely league-average. They led the Mavericks to the playoffs that season and would do so again every subsequent year that Nash was in Dallas. After a successful high school basketball career in British Columbia, Nash earned a scholarship to Santa Clara University in California. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It was a rocky year last year, rocky summer. We had a tough start. In addition, he had great physics, and Steve Nash's Shoe size is 12. We were good enough. [16] With Nash directing the team's offense, Nowitzki and Finley playing at their best, and the acquisition of All-Star Juwan Howard complementing the high-scoring trio, the Mavericks earned a playoff berth for the first time in more than a decade. [155] He also has a longstanding relationship with Nike. Nash only played in three preseason games before he started to feel more pain in his back. [153] On 18 September 2009, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria for his athletic achievements and philanthropic work on the behalf of young people through the Steve Nash Foundation. [168], In 2007, Nash wrote and produced an 81-second commercial for Nike titled "Training Day," directed by Julian Schnabel's daughter Lola, which gained popularity as a viral video on YouTube. [48] The Suns had difficulty being even a .500 team, and for the second time since Nash returned to Phoenix, the Suns failed to make the 2011 playoffs. Steve Nash is widely considered the greatest Canadian basketball player of all time. In 2021, Nash was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Frederick has been an athlete for years, even representing her school Pepperdine University in the past. This item is NOT valid for Exchange or Refund. "[98] A victory in its final game of the tournament, a placement game against Russia, enabled Canada to salvage seventh place. In 199293, Nashs first year with the program, Santa Clara upset the powerhouse University of Arizona in the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament. [55], In the second game of the 201213 season, Nash suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left leg after a collision with Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. Steve Nash Signed Phoenix Suns Jersey PSA/DNA Size XL. I will continue to support my team during this period of rest and will focus on my long-term health. The two MVPs he got, he deserved. In the 200001season, Nash averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game in a breakout season. Mallett, Peter, "Nash 'pretty amazing' on a soccer pitch", West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year, NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Canada West Universities Athletic Association, List of Canadians in the National Basketball Association, List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game, List of oldest and youngest National Basketball Association players, List of sportspeople with dual nationality, "All-Time #NBArank: Magic Johnson tops list of greatest point guards", "NBA All-Time Player Rankings: Top 10 Point Guards", "20 greatest point guards ever: The HoopsHype list", Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada, "Former SCU Basketball Star Steve Nash Honored by Alma Mater", Steve Nash Info Page Career Stats and Totals, "Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson is scoring big inside, outside NBA", Sacramento Stampedes Into Conference Finals, "Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers Box Score, November 21, 2004", "Phoenix Suns at New York Knicks Box Score, January 2, 2006", "Phoenix Suns at Portland Trail Blazers Box Score, April 19, 2006", Suns Steve Nash Wins Second Consecutive MVP Award, Bryant, Nowitzki, Duncan also part of All-NBA team, Two Hometown Hornets Named as Reserves for 2008 NBA All-Star Game, Spurs KO Rattled Suns to Close Out Series, MVP Kobe Bryant Highlights All-NBA First Team, "Suns race by Sixers behind Nash's 21 points, 20 assists", Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash named to 8th NBA All-Star Game, "Nash Heads to Lakers, Leaving Knicks in Lurch", "Steve Nash says trade to Lakers caught him by surprise", "201213 Lakers Report Card: Starting five", "Chris Paul, Clippers deal Lakers third straight loss to open season", "The Lakers Change Direction and Hire D'Antoni as Coach", "Steve Nash's return helps Lakers through a difficult night", "Steve Nash reaches milestone but is it on a Lakers road to nowhere? [113] In the 200506 season, Nash became the fourth player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better from the field, 40% from three-point range (43.9), and 90% from the line, joining Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, and Mark Price in the 504090 club. [8] After the season, Nash contemplated turning professional and decided against it when he learned that he would probably not be considered as a first-round pick in the 1995 NBA draft.[8]. Click to enlarge. [79] During his first season with the team, the Warriors produced a record-breaking 739 season, although the team fell short in the 2016 NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Steve Nash's Height 6ft 1 (185.4 cm) Canadian basketball player associated with the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. He won a bronze medal at the Canada Games and won a silver medal at the Summer Universiade, losing to Team USA in a closely contested final,[96] which included players such as Michael Finley and Damon Stoudamire. When Barbosa visited Corinthians in 2007, the club gave him a shirt with Nash's name and jersey number. STEVE NASH, Hand-Signed Floor Board and MCFARLANE Figures, 3-Piece Collection $106.40 $23.48 shipping or Best Offer LEGO Basketball NBA Steve Nash Mavericks Figure with Stand Ball & Card $22.00 Free shipping or Best Offer STEVE NASH, Phoenix Suns, MCFARLANE'S SPORTS PICKS, NBA BASKETBALL SERIES 14 $18.99 $20.44 shipping or Best Offer [51] Nash switched his jersey number, as his customary No. Since Feb. 10, Nash's Nets have a top-10 defense in terms of efficiency, and are outscoring their opposition by 12.5 points per 100 possessions over that span. Amar'e Stoudemire and Raja Bell have cameo appearances. That changed when Nash led the Broncos to a WCC tournament title and an upset win over the No. It is a spoof remake of the title sequence of the American television series The Six Million Dollar Man and plays on Nash's numerous on-court collisions. [166] He also trained with the New York Cosmos B of the American fourth-division National Premier Soccer League in 2015. [33] For the second year in a row, however, the Suns bowed out in the Conference Finals, this time to Nash's former team, Dallas. Buy on eBay. [132], On 5 January 2016, it was announced that Nash was part of a group who purchased a $21 million stake in Spanish Segunda Divisin club RCD Mallorca. The Nets won in Nash's last game on Monday night against the Indiana Pacers. "[75], Nash announced his retirement from playing on 21 March 2015. [136], In 2001, Nash met Alejandra Amarilla in Manhattan. How tall and how much weigh Steve Nash? "[178] Nash has also been critical of Arizona's SB1070, legislation which seeks to aggressively address illegal immigration, as he felt "the law obviously can target opportunities for racial profiling. He played with the Dallas Mavericks alongside Dirk Nowitzki, the Phoenix Suns where he was a star player, and last played for the Los Angeles Lakers. Although their relationship . Listed at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), he is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all time and is considered by many to be the . Despite only limited play from star Kyrie Irvingwhose decision not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine caused him to miss a number of games due to various coronavirus restrictionsBrooklyn advanced to the playoffs in 2022 but lost in the first round. The most intense pressure this season will be felt by a pair of big-market coaches: Brooklyn's Steve Nash and Philadelphia's Doc Rivers. Fast breaks were brutal and road trips unbearable. [16] On 31 January 2008, he collected his All-Star stripes for the sixth time in his career. But whether or not those stereotypes about male hands hold true, the science doesn't say. [70] Nash returned on 4 February 2014, shooting 3-for-6 for 7 points. Between their injuries and Kyrie Irving's multiple absences, the Nets' terrific trio has been far more of a rotating dynamic duo. Steve Nash Stephen John Nash, OC, OBC, basketball player (born 7 February 1974 in Johannesburg, South Africa). [161], Nash, whose father was born in the Tottenham district of London, is a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter, and has expressed interest in owning a minority stake in the club. [42] Nevertheless, Nash was later named to the All-NBA Second Team for the 200708 season.[43]. The Brooklyn Nets have named Steve Nash as the 23rd head coach in the franchise's NBA history. Nash was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2007 and invested to the order in 2016, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Victoria in 2008. Dallas lost in the Western Conference Semifinals four games to one to the San Antonio Spurs, but it marked the beginning of a memorable run for Nash and the Mavericks. December 6, 2020 6:08 PM EST. In October 2013, Nash appeared in the music video for "City of Angels" by Thirty Seconds to Mars. Nash and the Suns opened the 200910season with a series of strong performances, going 81 in their first nine games (a franchise-best since 198081), with Nash producing two 20-assists games. The Suns then had a disappointing postseason, losing in the conference semifinals. [110][111][112] He is ranked second (starting from 198687) in regular season pointassist double doubles. Nevertheless, he was selected to his sixth All-Star Game and continued to excel individually even as the Suns went into decline. Based on whether a man has strong, calloused palms or long, dexterous fingers, people may make assumptions about his career or hobbies. Being a career 42.8% 3-point shooter, Nash would be even better today because he'd be asked to shoot more, but his ability to control tempo and pace was special. Get the best deals on Steve Nash NBA Original Autographed Jerseys when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. While playing basketball during his senior season, Nash averaged 21.3 points, 11.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game. [23], Nash closely replicated his previous season's performance in the 200203season, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists per game,[16] again earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honours. [8] Santa Clara again captured the WCC title, and for the second consecutive year, Nash was named Conference Player of the Year, the first Bronco to repeat since Kurt Rambis. In February 2012, Nash was named to his eighth All-Star Game. In July of 2018, Steve Nash and Wolf & Shepherd Founder & CEO Justin Schneider met to talk business, Steve's foundation, and a shared belief in sports as a way to bring out the best in people and communities. [11][146] She is married to former professional ice hockey player Manny Malhotra. Even on his way to and from. [76] Before the announcement, the Cleveland Cavaliers told Nash's agent that they were interested in having him as a backup for Kyrie Irving if Nash asked for a buyout. Steve Nash won 0 championships. I work very hard to stay healthy, and unfortunately my recent setback makes performing at full capacity difficult. Copyright: ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. [61], Kobe Bryant was moved to defend the opponent's primary ball handler, freeing Nash from unfavourable matchups. How many rings does Steve Nash have? Having recorded career highs in points (18.8), rebounds (4.2), field goal percentage (.512) and free throw percentage (a league-leading .921), and leading the league with 10.5 assists per game,[12] Nash was named the league MVP for the second year in a row. After graduating with a degree in sociology,[11] Nash was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft. [12] On 12 January 2016, ESPN.com rated Nash as the seventh-best point guard of all time,[116] and in a survey by nba.com in 2007, Nash received 85% of the votes by the league's general managers as best point guard in the league. Nash was reluctant to leave Dallas and returned to Cuban to see if he would match the deal; Cuban did not, and Nash signed with the Suns for the 200405season. [19] In the 200102season, Nash posted career-highs of 17.9 points and 7.7 assists per game[16] and earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game and on the All-NBA Third Team. [85][86], On 3 March 2021, Nash was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for February, becoming the first Nets head coach to earn the honor since his former teammate Jason Kidd won it twice in 2014. Participants included Thierry Henry, Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, and Suns teammates Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa. After watching Nash in person, Davey said he "was nervous as hell just hoping that no one else would see him. "[11] However, Davey also told Nash he was "the worst defensive player" he had ever seen. Historic sales data are completed sales with a buyer and a seller agreeing on a price. [12] He remains third on the school's all-time scoring list (1,689) and holds Santa Clara's single-season free throw percentage record (.894). The next season, the Warriors would win the 2017 NBA Finals against the defending champions Cleveland Cavaliers, giving Nash his first NBA championship in any role. Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Nash has signed a four-year deal in what will be his first jaunt. The Canadian would go on to win two League MVP awards with Phoenix, and on a 14 June 2006 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, Cuban wondered out loud, "you know Steve's a great guy and I love him to death, but why couldn't he play like an MVP for us? Additionally, Steve Nash had the highest percentage and is the best shooter of all-time on his first free throw. [95] At age 17, he was the youngest member of Team Canada at the Summer Universiade, where the team won a silver medal. Phoenix Suns Steve Nash White Swingman #13 Jersey Adidas 1 adidas Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors Gold Hardwood Classic Jersey 389 Mitchell & Ness Steve Nash Phoenix Suns 1996-97 Reload Swingman Jersey - Orange - Large 2 $13499 $7.99 delivery Feb 22 - 27 Mitchell & Ness Steve Nash Phoenix Suns 1996-97 Reload Swingman Jersey - Orange - XL 1 Rumors shortly followed saying that. The Phoenix Suns on the other hand offered the point guard a six-year, $63 million contract. [140] They married in September 2016. The Suns acquired an aging and relatively immobile Shaquille ONeal during the following season, a move that cramped Nashs free-flowing style. Despite the preseason hype, the injury-plagued and dysfunctional Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs that season. In 2020 Nash was hired as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets despite having no previous NBA coaching experience. On 7 February 2014, his 40th birthday, he scored a season-high 19 points in a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Nash's Olympic performance propelled him to stardom in Canada, and he finished fifth in voting for the 2000 Lionel Conacher Award, which is handed out to the Canadian male athlete of the year. [173] In 2013, Nash was one of the recipients of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards presented by Canadian Immigrant magazine. [33] The Suns were not expected to repeat their successful 2005 season, but with Nash directing the same high-tempo offence, the team compiled a respectable 5428 record and won the division title. On this episode of The Class of '96, Bomani Jones looks at the life and career of Steve Nash. Sept. 9, 2020. Despite a mid-season trade that sent Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat and brought four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal to the team, the Suns were defeated in the first round of the 2008 playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs for the third time in four years. NWOT VINTAGE ADIDAS NBA PHOENIX SUNS STEVE NASH ORANGE JERSEY SIZE 2XL. "I'd like to be an owner. $29.99 + $5.99 shipping. That was the last time Nash played for Canada; he was reportedly upset about the firing of head coach Jay Triano in 2004. [16] Nash (four times) and Larry Bird (two times) are the only players to have accomplished this feat more than once. Behind solid performances by Richardson and veteran Grant Hill, the Suns defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 42 in the first round of the playoffs, and swept the Spurs 40 in the second round. When Dirk Nowitzki arrived in the NBA from Germany, he and Nash became close friends, in part because they enjoyed watching soccer together. Cuban wanted to build his franchise around the younger Nowitzki and did not want to risk signing the 30-year-old Nash to a long-term deal, and offered Nash a four-year deal worth about $9 million annually, with a fifth year partially guaranteed. Featuring a lightweight construction, shock absorbent cushioning, and premium Italian leather, the Crossover gets you where you need to go, no matter the route you take. 2 seeded Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. 6 min read. Head coach Mike D'Antoni favoured an up-tempo style of basketball; this required smaller and more athletic players with the capability to outrun and outshoot their opponents. However, they lost their next four, including a 125112 loss to Houston on 8 January 2013, when Nash assisted on an Antawn Jamison jumper to become the fifth player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career assists. He played 18 seasons in the NBA, where he was an eight-time All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA selection. During his first two seasons in the NBA, Nash played a supporting role behind NBA star point guards Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell, and later, Jason Kidd. Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash announced plans to divorce his wife of five years just one day after the birth of their third child, surprising many fans. Nash had also previously made statements about his intention to bring Major League Soccer to Vancouver as early as 2011, which he has succeeded in doing. The Steve Nash Foundation focuses its resources on underserved populations of children around the world. 7 NBA regular season leader for assists per 48 minutes: 2004 (12.6), Has more 504090 seasons than any other player in NBA history, One of only ten players to have ever shot 504090, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 10:44. Nash did not really get a chance to show his best play in Phoenix. He had spent the previous summer honing his skills, playing with the Canadian national team and working out with established NBA players Jason Kidd and Gary Payton. [40], Nash played in 81 regular season games during the 200708season; in this campaign, the Western Conference was especially competitive and he led the Suns to 55 wins and the sixth seed for the 2008 playoffs. At the time, it had been five years since the Broncos appeared in the NCAA tournament. Upon hearing the draft announcement, Suns fans booed in disapproval of the relatively unknown player. Despite his stellar play the Suns missed the 2012 playoffs for the second consecutive time. The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Steve-Nash, Official Site of The Steve Nash Foundation, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Biography of Steve Nash, Canada's Walk of Fame - Biography of Steve Nash, Nets give coach Jacque Vaughn multiyear contract extension. [99], Nash again led Team Canada during qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics at the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. blocktraining.com 1:28 33.4K views 90 21 142 Steve Nash [11], Nash was awarded a scholarship by Santa Clara for the 199293 season. [11] This was because despite his impressive college accomplishments, Nash had not played in one of the major college conferences. Picture 1 of 6. Whether Steve Nash is capable of coaching a team to a title. [128] He joined the USL-1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC team's ownership group in July 2008, and in March 2009, Vancouver was officially named as a future MLS expansion city, set to join the league in 2011. Furthermore, hes taken that spirit into the next chapter of his life, successfully leading multiple business ventures and charitable projects. Nash refused it due to health concerns and his wanting to retire as a Laker in gratitude for the opportunity given by the club. We're proud to introduce the newest addition to the Wolf & Shepherd lineup, the Crossover! [55][68] In what he called arguably "the most frustrating" season of his career, Nash missed a career-high 32 games in the regular season, and averaged his fewest assists (6.7) since 19992000, when he was a part-time starter with Dallas. He's a small, shaggy-haired, soccer-loving Canadian who had trouble finding even a small college to let him play, but he has succeeded with a style of play. December 20, 2020 9:00 am ET. 13 was retired by Los Angeles in honour of Wilt Chamberlain. The ad, which broke virally on Earth Day 2008, was written by Nash and the directors of the spot, Danny Vaia and Ezra Holland. Nash was particularly effective playing the pick and roll, especially with Nowitzki when he was with the Mavericks and later with the Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion under head coach Mike DAntoni. [96], In 1993, while in college, he played for the senior national team at the Tournament of the Americas and competed in the Canada Games (for the British Columbia team) and Summer Universiade. In 2004 he joined the Phoenix Suns as a free agent, brought in to helm the run-and-gun offense of head coach Mike DAntoni. Nash graduated from Santa Clara as the team's all-time leader in assists and was taken as the 15th pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He played 18 seasons in the NBA, where he was an eight-time All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA selection. Phoenix Suns saw the same thing and selected him after College as the 15th pick on the 1996 draft . Santa Clara was not known for its basketball prowess, but it did not take long for Nash to arrive on the national radar. ", "Lakers found formula, can they repeat it? I do not think every single NBA player down to 5'9 " can necessarily dunk. How much did Steve Nash make? It's something I could do for the rest of my life after my little window of popularity dies", he said in an interview with The New York Times. "As far as time and chemistry, it's not ideal," coach . [154], Nash is selective in his endorsements, preferring companies he deems socially responsible. Steve Nash Fitness World was the recipient of her money and it disappeared with the old club. [29] The catalyst of this turnaround, Nash averaged 11.5 assists per game while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season. [176], Nash is also known for his outspoken political views. Steve Nash, in full Stephen John Nash, (born February 7, 1974, Johannesburg, South Africa), South African-born Canadian basketball player who is considered to be one of the greatest point guards in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. [32], In the next season, Stoudemire suffered a serious knee injury, and Johnson and Quentin Richardson were traded away. Mitchell & Ness Phoenix Suns Steve Nash 1996-97 Swingman Jersey White NWT Large C $128.79 C $28.34 shipping Vintage Steve Nash Phoenix Suns NBA Jersey All Stitched XXL +2 Length FREE SHIP C $70.84 or Best Offer Steve Nash Phoenix Suns Authentic Reebok Size 48 NBA Jersey Men's XL White C $109.47 Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, just to name a few. 194 lb / 88 kg. [8] The team rebounded in the 199495 season, with Nash being named Conference Player of the Year and the Broncos topping the WCC. [8] Featuring the league leader for scoring and assists in Nash, the Broncos returned to the NCAA tournament, but Mississippi State defeated them. [50] Nash also considered signing with New York or Toronto, but he decided that Los Angeles was the best fit for him and his family. [46] On 21 January 2010, Nash was named as the starting point guard for the West for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. The team qualified for the playoffs as the seventh seed,[67] but were swept 40 by San Antonio in the first round. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Steve Nash, in full Stephen John Nash, (born February 7, 1974, Johannesburg, South Africa), South African-born Canadian basketball player who is considered to be one of the greatest point guards in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. In September 2016, Steve Nash married Lilla Frederick, a former Team USA volleyball player. Whether big or small, a man's hands say a lot about him. A major influence in Phoenix's choice was assistant coach Donnie Nelson, who met Nash back in high school as he was coached by Nelson's friend Ken Shields, and would eventually befriend the player as he played in Santa Clara. $30.00 + $9.50 shipping. The Steve Nash Upper Deck rookie card is one of the more popular of his rookie cards and super affordable, even at high grades. [151] On 28 December 2007, it was announced that Nash would receive Canada's highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada,[152] and on 3 June 2008, it was announced that Nash would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. In 2012 he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he joined with fellow superstars Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard in search of his elusive championship ring. . Speaking with the media after Brooklyn's loss to the Chicago Bulls,. [163] Nash is also a fan of Spain's FC Barcelona,[77] and Brazilian team Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, which his former Suns teammate Leandro Barbosa supports. Neither name should be a surprise, given how the 2022 . During his first year as a Maverick (the lockout-shortened 199899season) he started in all 40 games he played in, and averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. The Brooklyn Nets took the NBA by surprise with the hiring of Steve Nash as head coach in September, with the iconic point guard boasting an impeccable playing resume . On 21 November 2004, Nash recorded 22 points, 18 assists and 4 steals in a 122111 win over the LA Clippers. The South African-born, Canadian-raised Nash is known for his uncanny court vision and is one of just 10 NBA players to win back-to-back MVP . The group also included Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, Suns vice chairman Andy Kohlberg and former players of the US National Soccer Team Stuart Holden & Kyle Martino. The team lost aggressive forward Amare Stoudemire to injury in the next preseason and yet, despite the absence of one of the leagues best young players, once again appeared in the conference finals in 200506.