Steve Nash revealed how Stephen Curry became a defining moment in his career
In a recent episode of the Mind The Game podcast, Steve Nash opened up about a deeply personal and unexpected story involving himself and Stephen Curry — a moment he says ultimately led to his retirement from the NBA.
The preseason game that changed everything
The former Canadian point guard recalled that the turning point occurred during a preseason matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Tasked with guarding the young and fast‑rising star from San Francisco, Nash realized that he could no longer perform at the elite level he once maintained.
“My nerves were shot, and I just couldn’t recover. I thought, ‘I have to figure this out.’ It had been a week since my last game. We were going to play them in the preseason, and I kept thinking, ‘I have to play through the injury. And if not, what’s the point?’”
Curry joins the conversation
During the discussion, which also featured LeBron James and Stephen Curry as guests, Curry jumped in laughing, remembering that night in Ontario, California.
“We got on the court, and I was guarding Steph. I think they scored like 50 points in the first quarter — maybe 45, but it felt like 50. My back was shot, my body was done.”
Nash’s moment of self‑realization
For Nash, that night served as a clear signal that his body could no longer keep up with the game’s new generation of players. The experience, though humbling, became a defining and reflective moment in his career.
Author’s summary: Steve Nash shared how a preseason game against Stephen Curry became the moment he realized it was time to retire, marking an emotional turning point in his NBA legacy.