H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m
-------------------- April 19, 2007 Manifest Destiny
"Everything becomes a habit, make sure you do what you would like to be doing" Looking back at Steve Nash's career, his journey from being just another NBA player to being "the player" in these past two years, we can't help but think of that minute piece of advice we heard some time ago. Sure Nash was successful before winning MVP crown with the Suns. He was one of Dallas' hot shots with Nowitzki and Finley. But how many of you remember his career before he even became a star? That part in fact is the essence of the man, where were believe change in his habits, and circumstances conspired to turn him into the greatest point guard of the second half of this decade. Whereas Jason Kidd owned the first half. The year is 1996, The Bulls won their 4th title in June, Bill Clinton is in his first term, and you witty narrator is being nurtured on a bulk yearly subscription to Inside Stuff magazine. In the NBA draft, Allen Iverson is picked #1 overall by the 76ers. The last pick of the lottery is made by the Charlotte Hornets, who select a high schooler named Kobe Bryant. Then the Kings pick Predrag Stojakovic, and the Phoenix Suns grab Steve Nash at #15. The rookie wasn't expected to be a savior by no means, but at least a solid player. Yet landing on a roster full of point guards didn't make things easy. Having lost Charles Barkley in the off-season to the Houston Rockets, the Suns were suddenly weak in the post. It took an 0-8 start a coaching change (Danny Ainge replacing Cotton Fitzsimmons after the 8th loss) to help the team realize its strengths - mainly speed and ball movement. Thus was born "Small-Ball" The team started 3 point guards and included 5 of them in its rotation: Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson, Rex Chapman, Sam Cassell and Steve Nash. Constant fast breaks, cross court passes, expert ball handling - win or lose they put a smile on our face. The glut of point guards probably didn't help Steve get more playing time. However he did get his chances, and there was always veteran Kevin Johnson to get advice from. In two seasons with Phoenix, he came off the bench, and mainly played off his star teammates Kevin and Jason. That develops a strong habit. He was acquiring another habit as well: being injury-prone. That realization by Phoenix is what perhaps shipped him off to Dallas. Douglas MacArthur whould've said "I'll be back". In Dallas he became the perennial 1 guard, starting every game he played in, but still missing 10 games to injury. His second season in Dallas 1999-00 (4th overall in the NBA), however he only played 56 games and started less than half of those. Whether by chance or by nature, Nash was proving to be a lemon. So far in 4 years he had career averages of 7.22 points, 3.95 assists, 22 minutes, and missed a total of 59 games. But things were brewing up in the pipeline. Things that proved to be decisive factors in our point guard's career: 1 - During the 1999-00 season the Dallas Mavericks were acquired by a new school team owner, who was also a passionate hoops fan. Mark Cuban made it clear from the get go that he was excited and wanted to win. 2 - That off season the Mavericks acquired point guard Howard Eisley from Utah. He provided instant offense for the Jazz, while playing behind John Stockton. 3- In that same off-season Steve Nash was captain of the 2000 Canadian Olympic basketball team, that competed in Australia and finished 7th in a pool of 12. All those events served to help break out steve Nash from his regular NBA player mold. The Dallas atmosphere was such that even though he was now more of a starter his numbers had fell off from his second season in Phoenix. Under Mark Cuban, the team though having a losing record, were treated like stars. Cuban got the very best perks, beefed up the player support staff and even brought in Dennis Rodman for 12 games to generate buzz and fan curiosity. The Dallas players who were used to relative obscurity as Dallas had not mattered for years, were all of a sudden thrust into the fan and media limelight, as attendance soared. They came to behold The Worm, but their presence encouraged other players to play harder. Even if the results weren't there, all the fans needed to see, was the hustle. Cuban's marketing genius. With such happenings an ordinary point guard could no longer stand to be ordinary. He also had to deliver. When Howard Eisley was acquired in the off-season, he was in fact brought in to resolve Nash's injury question. Many figured he would take Nash's spot as starting guard. We did. So in essence this was perhaps the first time Nash was personally challenged as a professional. Play or be replaced. Again another reason to change habits. With his Canadian Olympic team, Steve Nash being the only player from the marquee league, had to assume the leadership role. A role he never assumed on his NBA squads. Though they finished 7th, it was still a strong performance from the Canadians, whose only NBA player on the squad was Nash. We're sure he got to thinking if he could lead such an underpowered team to a solid finish, he could do it anywhere else. When the 2000-01 season rolled around Steve Nash was a brand new ball player. He doubled his contribution is nearly in every stat category, and did it for a winning team (53-29 record). They lost in the second round of the playoffs to San Antonio. Having to fend off Howard Eisley in practice to keep his minutes improved his game, yielding to the winning expectations of Mark Cuban challenged the team to step out of the darkness, and perform as if they were in primetime. The summer olympic campaign did take its toll on him and he still missed 12 games that season. Over the course of the next two seasons however - as Dallas racked up victories, All-Star appearances, fan support, and fines from David Stern - Steve Nash played every single game. Whether by adroit physical conditionning or simply playing through injuries, Nash had willed himself to be a stronger player. Steve Nash's career could've easily been a regular one. Early on we feel he settled into roles that didn't demand much from him. Even after the events that changed his mold he could've still clung to his old habits. But apparently it wasn't what he really wanted to be doing. For the changes to occur in his play Steve Nash seized the opportunities that gave him a different approach to things, because he wasn't happy being an 8 and 4 guy, who was known for missing a string of games every season. Yet for all his development in the 3 years with Mark Cuban at the helm, he was still slighted when it came to contract negotiations. He wanted more, Cuban didn't think he was worth so much, given his history, and besides he was third fiddle to Finley and Nowitzki, and Dallas had quite a bench mob. Phoenix called back...and Nash answered. This was another moment in his career. He could've settled for Dallas. After all he was best friend with Nowitzki, and overall Cuban took care of his players, and the team was already made. But once again he stepped out of the mold. He wanted to be handsomely paid and run the show. He gambled. ...and it paid off. For the 2004-05 season he turned a team that went 29-53 the previous year to one that went 62-20, his first year there. He became the NBA MVP. It was sort of a debate whether he deserved it. After all he wasn't that overpowering, that fast, or that athletic anyway. To those who thought so, it was evidence that they weren't watching the games. Even if they did they were layman. Because everything on that team flowed through him. It went as he went. Even now it's one of those things you need to see to understand. He deserved the MVP in 2005, 2006, and we wouldn't object to another one for 2007. ...and that's how Steve Nash became a superstar (according to us). -------------------- Previous: NBA secrets...shhh Articles index |
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