Steve Nash Q&A: Talking MVP race, Kevin Durant's decision, Mike D'Antoni
Steve Nash — a back-to-back NBA MVP (2005, 2006) and future Hall of Famer who retired from the league in 2015 — spoke with USA TODAY Sports in a phone interview last week on behalf of his involvement with the Allstate National Association of Basketball Coaches Good Works Team.
Earlier this month, Nash joined the team — which is made up of student-athletes from across the country who have been recognized for their community service efforts — to volunteer with Special Olympics Arizona, teaching youth the fundamentals of basketball.
Later on in the interview, Nash hit on a wide range of topics around the NBA, including the neck-and-neck MVP race between James Harden and Russell Westbrook and his relationship with Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant.
Editor's note: The following has been condensed for brevity and clarity.
On his off-the-court involvement
Q: Can you tell me about your upcoming event with the Good Works Team, volunteering with Special Olympics Arizona?
A: Yeah, it's amazing. (Working with) these athletes, college basketball players that Allstate has identified and brought together, it's just been phenomenal as far as taking the initiative and making an impact in their community or the causes that are important to them. They've set such a good example. Allstate brought them together and we have a clinic with some Special Olympics kids in Arizona and hopefully can inspire others to do the same.
Q: Right, so obviously you created the Steve Nash Foundation and you were really active off the court during your playing days. I know you have that annual Soccer Showdown now. But as a former NBA player, you see so many current players showing that basketball is more than just basketball. What else are you doing now to make a difference in your community?
A: I've been lucky enough to have my foundation and have a great team of people. This (summer) will be our 10th annual showdown, our soccer event. We've had an impact on so many different things. It's kind of made my career more valuable, or more worthwhile in a respect, because it's not just about basketball. I look back at my career and think of all the people I've been able to work with, to help others. It kind of gives it meaning. This is the type of work that I love to do and to get to meet these young people that are doing the same is fantastic.
On the historic NBA MVP race
Q: You were one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game — and one of the most entertaining. It's safe to say we have a few greats, who are also incredibly entertaining, headlining the league today. I'm curious your thoughts on this MVP race, particularly between Harden and Westbrook. Just the things they're doing and how incredibly close of a race it is. You were part of a couple of really close MVP races as well.
A: It's great for the game. I think to see two players elevate their play to the levels they're playing at is fantastic for the game. You know, it's so objective. I've said recently, it almost says more about the person picking or voting than it does about the players and what their prefaces and biases are, because they're both just fantastic. Historically, we've given the award to someone who's doing it in the context of their team being a contender and having success, but I don't know why. It's not like there's a rule book or a protocol. ... I just think they're two guys that are playing at an incredible level. One of them's gonna win it, one of them's not. I think that's kind of the way the MVP goes every year.
Q: So if you had to pick, right now — like you said, history it's been the player on the better team, who has won more games, but both of these players are making history. The tough question: Being a two-time MVP, if you had to pick, who would you give it to?
A: Traditionally, if you had to pick, Harden probably seems to be in the lead because his team's contending and he's elevated the play of his team. Having said that, Russell's just been historic in terms of production and usage. It's an interesting debate, but that's all it is, a debate. You have to pick one. One will deserve to win and the other one will not deserve to lose, so to speak. And I think you could say the same about Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James. You could say the same even about Steph Curry or Kevin Durant if he didn't get hurt. ... It comes down to storytelling in many respects and that's very subjective.
On his relationship with Kevin Durant
Q: So you mentioned Durant. It's well-documented, your conversations with him, your relationship with him leading up to his decision to leave (Oklahoma City) for Golden State (over the summer). There's a lot of behind-the-scenes work that went down and a whole long story. But it was, without a doubt, a really tough choice for him. He knew it would be highly criticized, but at the end of the day he did what he thought was best for his career. Can you talk about his decision and your guy's conversations leading up to his decision?
A: I think Kevin was at the point in his life where he wanted to change. He wanted to be pushed as a man, as a basketball player in a new environment and maybe live in a different part of the world. I think people look at it through the lens of he went to the best team, a team that just beat him, because he wanted to win a championship. It's funny, championship was never really what Kevin talked about. If anything, in our conversations, I would talk about that. He wasn't like 'championship or bust.' He was excited by a new culture, new part of the world, new challenge, being pushed to get out of his comfort zone and try something new. In the NBA, especially as a superstar, you're judged by winning or losing and that is by winning a championship or not. And that's a pretty difficult judgement.
... Of course he's an extremely hardworking, focused, brilliant basketball player who wants to win a championship and will play as though his life depends on it. But he's able to separate and say, 'I'm also a man who's trying to grow and live a great life and have an impact.' I can vouch that, regardless of people's judgment of his decision, he's an incredible human being and somebody we're really lucky to have in the game of basketball.
On the success of Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni
Q: I'm curious to hear you talk about (your former coach) Mike D'Antoni. What he's done to this Rockets team, what he's done to James Harden — really, the offense runs through him (now) and you see his incredible assist numbers and how he controls that team. There are a lot of differences from this Rockets team and the Seven Seconds or Less (Phoenix Suns) teams, but what's it like for you watching this team thrive ever since D'Antoni got there? Can you take me through what it's like to have him on the sidelines as a coach?
A: I think it's great. I think he's gotten such a bad rap for (his coaching stints in) New York and L.A., I don't know that he really had a chance in either one of those stops. It kind of diminished a little bit of what an impact he's had on the game and how great it is to watch him put his pieces together, play his system and style. And what a beautiful way it is to play the game and how impactful it's been on this team and this league. I'm happy for him. I think he's well deserving (of this success). Hopefully they have a long playoff run and he gets some credit for what he's done for the game.
On NBA draft prospects Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball
Q: It's the era of the point guard. We see that going into the NBA draft. We have these two incredible players in Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball and there's so much commotion, is it going to be Fultz No. 1 or Ball No. 1? You can't really go wrong and it's all about how it would fit with the team. Can you talk about what you've seen from them and how you think their games will translate to the next level?
A: Yeah, I mean, (they're) both extremely talented. Like you said, in today's day and age, it's fantastic to be able to have a playmaking point guard who can put pressure on the defense and be a focal point. It's almost necessary above all else. Two great options and I'm excited to see them play at the next level. But again, the draft is so difficult. It's not a science — it's a combination of art and science and luck. They're gonna be two fantastic and exciting players, we've just gotta be patient and see how it plays out.
On Devin Booker's 70-point game
Q: Can you speak to what Devin Booker did the other night? Seventy points at age 20 is just absolutely incredible. (With you) being such a historic member of the Suns, seeing him break those records and be looked at as the future of the franchise — what have you seen from him, and how excited are you to see his career shape out?
A: He's just an incredible young talent and a great person. The Suns organization is lucky to have found a player of his caliber but also a human being of his nature. Seventy points, it's ridiculous no matter how you look at it. I think the sky's the limit for him. It makes you proud as a former Phoenix Sun to see a young player play like that.
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