July 23, 2015 • Blog, The Power 50, Uncategorized
It wasn’t quite the exit we all imagined when he signed his last pro contract three years back, shunning his nation’s only team in the process. But in spite of how it happened, he’s still the stuff of legend. That Steve Nash emerged as a two-time NBA MVP, perennial All-Star and Point God who changed the game and paved the way for guys like Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and others is beyond fathomable, especially when you consider the root story.
As a skinny, yet scrappy, kid growing up in Victoria, British Columbia, Nash found it difficult to be recruited. So, instead of sitting on his hands, he personally sent videos to schools throughout the NCAA in hopes of landing a basketball scholarship. The effort paid off as one school responded to him and that was the shot he needed.
Although Nash didn’t win the Naismith Trophy as he envisioned he would by singning with L.A., that detail is more a footnote than Shakespearean tragedy. The guy had as good of a career as anybody, and is without a doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
So what else does Nash need to do to make his point? If you asked him, the answer would be just about everything. During his overdue retirement announcement this past spring, he admittedly said little about his future other than to reveal that he’s taking some time off to let it all sink in. Just don’t expect his hiatus to last too long. Nash already has his fingers in everything from MLS team ownership, to film production, to his role as General Manager for the Canadaian Men’s National Team (which, is vying for a spot in Rio next year). On top of that, his ongoing commitment to philanthropy will keep him busy, especially with his very own namesake foundation geared towards giving kids a healthier, brighter future.
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