In a candid revelation that’s sure to resonate with basketball fans, former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash has opened up about how Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry essentially pushed him toward the end of his illustrious career. Nash, a two-time NBA MVP himself during his prime with the Phoenix Suns, didn’t mince words when he confronted Curry directly on the latest episode of his podcast “Mind The Game,” co-hosted with LeBron James.
“You deserve a little bit of [blame for] putting me out to pasture,” Nash quipped to Curry, recounting a pivotal preseason matchup that left him questioning his future in the league. The game in question? An October 12, 2014, exhibition clash at Ontario’s Toyota Arena, where the Warriors dismantled the Lakers in a lopsided 116-75 victory. But it was the first quarter that truly broke Nash’s spirit—Golden State exploded for 39 points while holding L.A. to just 13, making it feel like an unstoppable onslaught.
Nash vividly described the nightmare: “We came out, I’m guarding Steph. I think they put up, like, 50 in the first quarter. Maybe it was 45, but it felt like a 50-piece. He’s running everywhere. I’m like, back is broke… I couldn’t have stopped him if I was 100 percent… Stevie Kerr’s putting me in every pick-and-roll action.”
Curry, then on the cusp of his MVP dominance, was electric that night, dropping 25 points on efficient 8-of-11 shooting (including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc) and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. He added six rebounds and six assists in under 24 minutes of play. Nash, on the other hand, managed just three points—all from the charity stripe—going 0-for-5 from the field in a mere 12 minutes. The mismatch was glaring, and for Nash, it was a harsh wake-up call.
“Man, literally like, three or four more days of thinking on it, I was like, ‘Yeah. I think it’s time,'” Nash admitted. “And that was it. I called Mitch [Kupchak, then-Lakers team president].” Plagued by a nagging back injury, Nash was officially sidelined for the entire 2014-15 season and announced his retirement in March 2015. But fate had a twist in store—just months later, in September, Nash joined the Warriors as a player development consultant, turning from foe to ally.
“Next thing I know, he showed up at practice, was teaching us pick-and-roll as a consultant,” Curry laughed, reflecting on the irony. Nash’s time with Golden State proved fruitful; he stuck around long enough to celebrate two NBA championships before moving on in 2020 to coach the Brooklyn Nets (albeit briefly). Today, Nash keeps his basketball IQ sharp as an analyst for NBA games on Amazon Prime Video, while also diving into podcasting with “Mind The Game.”
That fateful 2014-15 season was a turning point for both players. For Nash, it meant navigating a mismatched Lakers squad featuring aging stars like Kobe Bryant and Carlos Boozer, alongside Jeremy Lin fresh off his Houston stint and rookie Julius Randle. Meanwhile, it marked Steve Kerr’s debut as Warriors head coach, kicking off a dynasty that saw Curry claim his first of four rings—three of them against LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals, starting with a six-game triumph that year.
Nash’s story is a poignant reminder of how the NBA’s relentless pace can humble even the greats. Facing Curry’s whirlwind style—endless motion, deadly shooting, and clever playmaking—Nash realized his body couldn’t keep up. “Steph Curry broke me,” he might as well have said. It’s a tale of transition, respect, and the unbreakable bond forged on the hardwood, proving that sometimes, retirement isn’t just an end—it’s the start of a new chapter.