Name: Stephen John Nash
Born: February 7, 1974 in Johannesburg, South Africa
Team: Phoenix Suns
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Nicknames: Captain Canada, Kid Canada, Nasty Nash, Hair Canada, Nashty
High School: Saint Michael's in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
College: Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA
Drafted: 1996; 1st round, 15th pick by the Phoenix Suns
Teams Played For In Career:
- Phoenix Suns (1996-1998)
- Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004)
- Phoenix Suns (2004-Present)
MAJOR AWARDS AND HONORS:
Most Valuable Player
- 2004-05 NBA Most Valuable Player
- 2005-06 NBA Most Valuable Player
NBA All-Star
All-NBA Teams
- 2001-02 All-NBA Third Team
- 2002-03 All-NBA Third Team
- 2004-05 All-NBA First Team
- 2005-06 All-NBA First Team
- 2006-07 All-NBA First Team
Background:
Nash led his high school team to the BC AAA provincial championship title and was named the province's Player of the Year as a senior. He was not recruited by any school in the NCAA, but eventually Nash was awarded a scholarship to attend Santa Clara for the 1992-93 season. As a freshman he helped Santa Clara win the West Coast Conference title and went on to upset the number two seeded University of Arizona in the first round of the 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
Nash set up the Steve Nash Foundation to help underprivileged kids and is known to have interests in reading, art, politics, and what seems his first love - soccer. Nelly Furtado mentions Nash in her smash 2006 single, "Promiscuous."
His Career Thus Far:
When Nash was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1996, no Canadian had ever been drafted so high. He backed up Jason Kidd and Kevin Johnson during his first two seasons in the league. In 1998, Nash was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. His first couple of years in Dallas were marred by injury, but by 2000 Nash had become a major contributor to the team. As a free agent in 2004, Nash signed a long-term contract with the Phoenix Suns. His career has been taken to the next level since returning to Phoenix; he was the league MVP in his first two seasons back with the Suns. Nash also led the league in assists for the 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07 seasons.
Along with Magic Johnson, Nash is the only other point guard to win the NBA MVP award more than once. He is one of eight players to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
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