With his wild-hair and run-and-gun playing style, Steve Nash has become one of the NBA's top point guards. Kidzworld checks out the reigning MVP of the NBA.
Steve Nash - Canadian Hoops Star
Steve Nash was born in South Africa in 1974, where his dad was playing professional soccer. His family later settled in Victoria, Canada, where Steve grew up. As a kid, Steve played soccer, lacrosse and rugby before he began playing organized basketball in grade eight. He went on to become a star on his high-school basketball team, but went largely unnoticed by scouts from US college teams. Nash eventually landed a scholarship with Santa Clara State - a small college in California. He left Canada, determined that he would one day become a pointguard in the NBA.
Steve Nash - From College to the NBA
Steve Nash had a huge impact with Santa Clara State - leading the team to two appearances in the NCAA tournament. Nash's quickness, good basketball smarts and smooth passing skills caught the eye of several NBA scouts and Nash was picked by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft. After two seasons playing as a backup with Phoenix, Nash was traded to the Dallas Mavericks where he would blossom into an NBA superstar. In 2003, Nash and teammates Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley formed a powerful trio that helped the long-suffering Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals, where the would lose in six games to the San Antonio Spurs. That same year, Nash played in the NBA All-Star Game and established himself as one of the NBA's top point guards.
Steve Nash - NBA MVP
In 2004, Steve Nash left the Dallas Mavericks to sign as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns - the team that had originally drafted him. He made an immediate impact as the team's on-court leader, as his outstanding passing skills helped create space for his teammates and fellow superstars, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. The Suns' run-and-gun style made them one of the most exciting teams in the NBA and they finished with the league's best record. Steve Nash edged out Shaquille O'Neal to win the league's MVP award - becoming the first point guard in more than 20 years to win the award.
Steve Nash - Did You Know?
- Steve Nash married his longtime girlfriend, Alejandra Amarilla, in June 2005. They have twin daughters named Lola and Bella.
- Steve Nash's brother, Martin, played professional soccer in England and was a member of the Canadian National soccer team.
- In 2001, Steve formed the Steve Nash Foundation, which provides money for health, education and sports programs for underpriviledged kids.
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