Steve Nash Bio

Any comprehensive Steve Nash bio is sure to include his two MVP seasons in the NBA. However, before being recognized as the best player in the league two years in a row, Nash was already playing elite level basketball all his life. He played high school basketball at St. Michaels University School, where he had a sterling senior season. Steve Nash eventually led his team to the British Columbia AAA provincial championship in the 1991-92 season and was named the provincial Player of the Year.

Although he was not recruited by any universities, he was noticed by coach Dick Davey and was awarded a scholarship by Santa Clara in the 1992-93 season. Led by Nash, the Santa Clara Broncos conquered the West Coast Conference (WCC) and upset a highly-touted Arizona team in the first round of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The following season was a disappointment but the Broncos came back hard during the 1994-95 season. The team picked up another West Coast Conference title and earned another berth in the NCAA tournament that same year.

Steve Nash started to get noticed by both the media and basketball scouts during his senior year. During this time, the diminutive guard played for the Canadian national team and even worked out with several NBA players. Steve Nash led Santa Clara to yet another WCC title and was recognized as the Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year.

Steve Nash was drafted by the Phoenix Suns as the 15^th pick of the 1996 NBA draft. He played mostly as a backup to such stars as Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd. As a rookie, the Canadian averaged a mere 3.3 points and 2.1 assists. Prior to the 1998-99 NBA season, Nash was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for a handful of role players and a first-round draft pick.

Playing for the Mavericks, Steve Nash was the starting point guard. He played alongside a young Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley who was just hitting his peak. Nash and his teammates continued to play top level basketball performing well enough to earn a playoff spot in the 2000-01 season. Unfortunately, they ran into a quality San Antonio Spurs team in the Western Conference Semifinals and lost four games to one.

The 2001-02 NBA season was a breakout year for Steve Nash. He was voted as an All-Star for the very first time and was instrumental in Dallas' impressive run in the regular season. As the fourth seeded team in the Western Conference, the Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. The team was unable to maintain their momentum and was crushed by a determined Sacramento squad in the second round.

Prior to the 2004-05 season, Nash was unable to negotiate an acceptable contract with the Dallas Mavericks management and was picked up once more by the Phoenix Suns. A Suns player once more, Steve Nash raised his already formidable game. He bested Shaquille O'Neal for the 2004-05 NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year award. The Suns continued their spirited playoff performance but bowed out in the Western Conference Final against their old rival, the San Antonio Spurs.

The 2005-06 NBA season did not look promising for the rising Suns. Their premiere big man, Amare Stoudemire, was out with a knee injury and several key players were traded. Instead of wilting away though, Steve Nash continued to weave his on-court magic en route to another magnificent season. Even with a depleted lineup, Phoenix clinched the division title and reached the Conference Finals, losing to the Dallas Mavericks. Nash was voted league MVP for the second straight year thanks in part to his impressive regular season stats with 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 10.5 assists.

The 2010-11 season was the end of the vaunted Nash and Stoudemire tandem. Amare Stoudemire left Phoenix to play for the New York Knicks alongside Carmelo Anthony. Meanwhile, athletic guard Leandro Barbosa moved to Toronto to play for the Raptors. Although Steve Nash continues to lead the Suns' charge, a weakened lineup resulted in a disappointing NBA regular season and the team failed to make the playoffs.