Stephen Curry Congratulates Steve Nash on Retirement

There will never be another Steve Nash.

Just think about that for a moment — how a kid from South Africa whose first loves were soccer and rugby eventually moved to Canada, told his mother in the eighth grade that he wanted to be in the NBA, started playing basketball, rose to stand a mere 6-feet-3-inches, surprised college basketball with his electrifying play at Santa Clara University, then became one of the greatest point guards to ever set foot on the NBA hardwood.

It’s a story worth a motion picture, and his career has been nothing short of theatrical. But with all great movies, sometimes the ending is bittersweet.

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Nash, 41, recently announced his retirement from the NBA. A 19-year league veteran and 8-time All-Star, Nash is but one of ten players in the history of the NBA to win back-to-back MVP honors.

Unfortunately, the wear-and-tear of the NBA began to take its toll following his sign-and-trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, leading to a series of injuries (most involving the nerves in his back) that kept Nash from playing at a high level; however, it doesn’t take away from a storied Hall of Fame career and the fact he’ll go down as one of the best players to ever do it

And the way he did it will never be replicated, only emulated.

A career 49.0 percent shooter from the field (42.8 percent shooting from behind the arc), his impressive shooting ability is highlighted by a NBA record four seasons as a member of the 50/40/90 club; and yet, his ability to score still takes a backseat to his incomparable ability to dish dimes.

He’s third all-time in assists (10,335) behind John Stockton and Jason Kidd, a feat that defines the kind of player Nash was. He could score with the best of them, but finding his teammates for open looks was his true calling. He was truly an artist with the basketball, painting masterpieces on a night-to-night basis on a canvas that he sometimes didn’t even have to look at.

Mandatory Credit: Danny La-USA TODAY Sports

With most players, defenders can choose to give opponents space and dare them to shoot, or they could crowd opponents and dare them to drive past them; with Nash, the only choice defenders had was the lesser of two evils — and most of the time, defenders would rather have Nash hit a jumper in their face or a runner in the lane than end up on SportsCenter via a no-look dime.

For Nash, making his teammates better seemed almost effortless. He was a visionary — a word that not only applies to his amazing ability to see the floor, but also to his innate creativity that imbued whomever he played alongside. He epitomized what all the great players strived to be — a player that made his teammates better so easily, it wasn’t a question whether he did.

Then here’s Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, another entertaining point guard standing 6-foot-3-inches that comes from humble beginnings, who’s looking at his first MVP season.

Curry has gone on record to say he modeled his game after Nash — the craftiness, the artistry, the showmanship, etc. Nash undoubtedly appreciated the gesture, even saying in an interview that he wished he had Curry’s aggressive scoring mentality. He also sent out this memorable tweet:

And when asked about what all-time point guard he’d want to resemble by the end of his career, Curry gave this answer:

"“I’d say Steve Nash. He’s always been one of those guys who was in that 50-40-90 club [50 percent on twos, 40 percent on threes, 90 percent from the line], which as a point guard is tough to do because you’re responsible for getting guys in rhythm, getting guys open, walking that fine line of when to shoot or pass. To be able to run your offense as efficiently as he does, as a guy who can stretch a defense and also use his change of speed and passing to be a triple threat, that’s pretty special to watch. I mostly modeled my game after him, but I watched everybody.” “Steve, the way he shoots the ball and his creativity with passing, using both hands, that inspired me to play the way I do right now. We’re different, but he’s as close as it gets.”"

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Yes, there’s plenty of differences between Curry and Nash, mainly in regards to Curry’s “shoot first” style of play; but as Curry says, there’s a lot of similarities between him and Nash as well, similarities that aren’t drawn by just writers and analysts, but also players and coaches.

Reigning MVP Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder — who unfortunately is out indefinitely — once compared Curry to Nash, and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr — former general manager for the Phoenix Suns — also drew comparisons between the two high-IQ point guards.

"“We were watching Steve Nash every night in Phoenix as a 6-1 point guard who could shoot and pass, and Steph looked like another version of Steve,” Kerr said. “They’re different. Steph’s more offensive-minded. Steve was more of a playmaker first. But the skillset is very similar, just the incredible hand-eye coordination and the ability to beat you with the pass, the dribble and the shot is a pretty rare combination.”"

Nash hasn’t been able to step back on the court since October of last year, and it was announced back then it was unlikely he’d ever take the court again due to ongoing back injuries. Curry was one of the many players that chimed in following that announcement earlier this season.

"“He’s a guy that I looked up to heavily when I was in college, kind of studied a lot going into my NBA career,” Curry said. “We had a lot of similarities in how we played the game. But he changed a lot about how the point guard position is played.” “You hate to see that career end like that, but I’m sure he’s happy with how things turned out after Santa Clara. It’s a pretty impressive resume and definitely a first-ballot Hall of Famer, a guy that we all benefitted from watching him play and playing against him.”"

While the league may sadden to see him go, it truly has been a privilege watching this unlikely hero set the bar for what being a NBA superstar should be.

In his letter to the fans and the league announcing his retirement, Nash thanked those who had a hand in his career and ended it with this profound statement:

"“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.”"

Of all the many players in the NBA that can identify with the kid with his ball, falling in love, Steph Curry is definitely one of those players with which that statement resonates, and resounds.

Next: Stephen Curry Taking Shots at James Harden, Chris Paul??