Steve Nash Announces Retirement

Steve Nash is officially retiring from the game of basketball.

In an article posted on the Players’ Tribune earlier today, Nash, 41, announced his retirement and thanked all people who have supported him throughout his 18-year career.

“I will likely never play basketball again. It’s bittersweet. I already miss the game deeply, but I’m also really excited to learn to do something else. This letter is for anyone who’s taken note of my career. At the heart of this letter, I’m speaking to kids everywhere who have no idea what the future holds or how to take charge of their place in it. When I think of my career, I can’t help but think of the kid with his ball, falling in love. That’s still what I identify with and did so throughout my entire story.”

Nash’s letter was filled with the kind of emotion that accompanies the ending of a legendary career.

Drafted 15th overall in the 1996 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns, Nash quickly became one of the most exciting point guards in the game, and as he retires, he will be remembered as one of the all time greats.

Over 1,217 games with Phoenix, Dallas, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Nash averaged 14.3 points and 8.5 assists per game, or 17,387 total points and 10,335 total assists. An eight-time All-Star and two-time MVP, Nash led the NBA in assists in six different seasons, and retires third on the all time assist leaderboard, behind John Stockton and Jason Kidd. Incredibly, Nash finished with one more career assist than former point guard Mark Jackson.

Nash’s later seasons were hampered by injury, as his body could no longer keep up with his passion for the game. In the 2013-14 season, Nash could only appear in 15 games for the Lakers, and he did not appear in a single game in the 2014-15 season due to a back injury, despite being a member of Los Angeles’ roster.

The Lakers have already entered a rebuilding period, as cornerstone Kobe Bryant continues to age, and thus Nash’s retirement will likely not have a huge impact on the team for next year.

In retirement, Nash plans to spend more time with his children and girlfriend, and it is likely that several teams would love to add him to their coaching staff when he is ready to return to the game in that respect.