Whether or not Nash stays is a question to ponder over the summer, but my initial thought was about Nash's legacy as an NBA player. Is he the best white basketball player ever? I am sure everyone can think of five or six studs with light skin, so I put together a list to see where Nash belongs.
Larry Bird
When you hear white basketball players, you think Larry Bird. And it is for a good reason. Larry Legend averaged 23.4 points, 10 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game over his 13 year career. He made 10 All-Star Game appearances, won three MVPs, two finals MVPs, 10 First Team All-NBA honors and was an original member of the Dream Team that won gold in the Olympics. Bird was an icon in the 80s and his rivalry with Magic Johnson is one of the greatest ever.
"Pistol" Pete Maravich
Growing up in Baton Rouge, it is impossible to not hear about the Pistol. LSU, Maravich's old stomping grounds, named its basketball arena after him. Maravich revolutionized the game with his deep shooting and flashy passes, and is one of the best college players ever ( he averaged 43.8, 44.2 and 44.5 points per game in his three years playing for LSU's varsity squad). In the pros, Pistol averaged 24 points, five assists and four rebounds in an era without a three point line.
Bob Cousy
Bob Cousy is one of the original legends on the court. Cousy helped build the Celtics into a dynasty in the 50s and 60s and they have maintained there dominance since. Cousy won six NBA championships and was the original Magic Johnson using his full court vision and fast break passing to burn opponents. Cousy averaged 18 points, 7.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds, was a 13 time All-Star and a two-time MVP.
Dirk Nowitzki
After earning his ring last year, Dirk is locked into the hall of fame. Nowitzki has never had an All-Star cast around him, yet has consistently led Dallas to the playoffs and been one of the top 10 players in the NBA every year (except maybe this season).
Nowitzki is an 11 time All-Star, and has averaged 24 points and eight rebounds over his 13 year career. Also, I think he has a few more years or one more championship run in him.
Jerry West
Jerry West is the icon of the NBA. Literally. You see pictures of him every day and probably don't realize it. Does this look familiar? How about this:
He is so photogenic.
Well it's the same guy. But West did more than pose for the NBA logo. West was the Lakers' version of Bob Cousy, leading Los Angeles to prominence in the 60s that has not been lost yet. West averaged 27 points, six assists and five rebounds over his time in LA. More importantly, West was a winner, making 13 playoff appearances in 14 years and winning one championship
There is my Top 5. There are plenty worthy candidates I would give honorable mention: Bob Pettit, Rick Barry, Jason Kidd, Bill Walton, John Stockton.
Now to make the case for Steve Nash. Nash plays for Phoenix, a team with historically bad management. The best players this team has had (besides Nash) are pre-awesome Joe Johnson (current being awesome in Atlanta), Shawn Marion (traded away for Shaq), post-awesome Shaq and Amare Stoudemire (currently being decent in New York). Johnson and Stoudemire were not paid for how they played so they left.
Since then, the Suns team has overpaid good back up players to be okay starters (Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Jared Dudley and Channing Frye), acquired too many role players who are not stars (Sebastian Telfair, Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress, Robin Lopez) and had many an injured veteran play somewhat rejuvenated basketball (Grant Hill and Michael Redd). That is what their current roster looks like, and a 38-year-old Nash almost willed them into the playoffs.
This is Steve Nash. He wills a team of over-achievers to win. And he throws insane assists. And he has odd hair. And he is from Canada. I digress.
In college, Nash lead Santa Clara to two straight tournament appearances that included an upset over 10-seed Maryland.
Nash pulled a Suns team whose starters were Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw, Tim Thomas and Leandro Barbosa to the Western Conference finals in 2006. Now, yes, Marion was an excellent player, but Nash deserves the credit for dragging a team with this, this and this (and yes that is absolutely them) to within two games of the NBA finals.
Nash is a two-time MVP (in 2005 and 2006 nonetheless), eight time All-Star, has the fifth most assists in NBA history, and is so loyal that the Suns should already have his jersey in the rafters.
Nash could have won championships with other teams. Instead he stuck it out with his teammates, and has built a winning program in Phoenix.
I hope wherever he goes he can win, because Steve Nash is one of the best (both in skill and class) to run the courts.
**All stats are courtesy of NBA.com's archives and/or www.basketball-reference.com.**
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