Steve Nash details Stephen Curry’s role in his NBA retirement

Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash shared that Stephen Curry significantly influenced his decision to retire after the 2013–14 season. Nash ended his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he joined Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard in a team that ultimately fell short of expectations. As age began to take its toll, Nash recognized that his time on the court was nearing an end.

Nash’s Reflection on Retirement

During an episode of “Mind the Game” with LeBron James, Nash spoke openly to Curry, the show’s guest, about the moment he realized his playing days were over.

“You might know this, but you deserve a little bit of putting me out to pasture, a little bit of my retirement story,” Nash said. “When he came in the league, I still felt like the big brother. And then he started becoming who he is, and the pendulum shifted.”

Nash described how he tried to measure himself against the younger Curry, only to see reality set in during a preseason matchup.

“We played you guys in Ontario, California. I’m guarding Steph, and they put up something like 45 in the first quarter—it felt like 50. He’s running everywhere, my back is gone, everything hurts. I couldn’t have stopped him even if I were 100%. That’s when it hit me.”

A New Era Begins

That experience marked the moment Nash accepted that the league was shifting to a faster, younger generation—led by players like Curry, whose energy and creativity redefined the modern game.

Author’s summary: Steve Nash admitted that facing Stephen Curry showed him it was time to retire, realizing the game had shifted to a new generation of players.

The Big Lead — 2025-11-05