No university wanted Steve Nash until one coach watched a highlight tape
His high school coach mailed letters and highlight reels to more than 30 American universities, and not one recruited him. Then Santa Clara's coach asked for footage, saw the Canadian guard in person, and quietly hoped no bigger programme would notice. That overlooked teenager went on to win two NBA MVP awards.
Steve Nash was born in Johannesburg in 1974 to a Welsh mother and an English father who had played professional soccer around the world. The family settled in Victoria, British Columbia, and young Steve grew up on soccer and ice hockey, only picking up basketball at 12 or 13. In his senior year at a private school in Victoria he averaged 21.3 points and 11.2 assists a game and led his team to the provincial title.
At Santa Clara he quickly repaid Dick Davey's faith, even though Davey bluntly rated his defence as the poorest he had come across. As a freshman Nash helped the Broncos upset second-seeded Arizona in the 1993 NCAA tournament, hitting six free throws in a row in the last 30 seconds. He was twice named West Coast Conference Player of the Year and left as the school's all-time assists leader.
Phoenix drafted him 15th in 1996, and fans booed the unfamiliar name. He barely played as a rookie and was traded to Dallas in 1998, where he blossomed alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley. When Mark Cuban hesitated to give a 30-year-old a long contract, the Suns offered six years and $63 million, and Nash went back to Phoenix. In his first season there he led the team to the conference finals and was named the league's MVP, an award he won twice.
Across 18 seasons he became an eight-time All-Star and ranks among the best ever at three-pointers, free throws and assists. Time named him one of its 100 most influential people in 2006, and he entered the Hall of Fame in 2018. Off the court he co-owns the Vancouver Whitecaps and served as general manager of Canada's national team.
Source: Steve Nash
