Key Highlights
- Steph Curry convinced Hall of Famer Steve Nash to retire during a podcast discussion.
- Nash attributed his decision to retire to playing alongside an energetic Curry in 2014.
- The trio discussed Curry’s revolutionary one-motion jumpshot and its impact on the game.
- Curry shared insights into his shot development, including advice from former general manager Bob Myers.
Curry’s Impact on Nash’s Decision to Retire
NBA legend Steve Nash, who played for both the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers, revealed that a game in 2014 with the Golden State Warriors was instrumental in his decision to retire. During this podcast episode, Nash vividly described how young Curry’s energy and prowess overwhelmed him.
“He’s running everywhere,” Nash reminisced about Curry during their 2013 preseason match in Beijing, China. “My back is broke.” Nash further elaborated that despite feeling physically taxed, he could not have stopped Curry even if he were at his peak performance level. This game set the stage for Nash’s eventual retirement decision.
The Evolution of Curry’s Game
During the podcast, both Nash and LeBron James marveled at Curry’s unique shooting style. Nash highlighted how Curry invented a new kind of jumpshot that revolutionized basketball:
“You’ve gone on to become the greatest shooter of all-time by a long margin. Range, accuracy, dexterity, off the move, left, right, leaning in and leaning back. You do it all.”
Curry himself admitted that he would not teach his unconventional form to kids but praised Klay Thompson’s technique instead.
Curry’s Unorthodox Shot Development
The podcast delved into the development of Curry’s shot, with an interesting anecdote about Bob Myers, the former general manager of the Warriors. Myers famously suggested that Curry should shoot 15 threes a game:
“I was like, ‘What? Do you know how hard it is to get 12 good looks up?’ He was like ‘Why not?’”
Curry’s revolutionary shooting ability and his unorthodox technique played significant roles in the success of the Warriors during their championship runs against LeBron James’s Cavaliers.
The Broader Impact on Basketball
Curry’s one-motion jumpshot not only changed how he played but also influenced the way basketball was perceived. Both Nash and James acknowledged that Curry’s game was most dangerous when he did not have the ball, a skillset that contributed to their rivalry during multiple Finals matches from 2015 to 2018.
The discussion highlighted the evolution of the game and how players like Curry pushed boundaries and set new standards for shooting and ball-handling in basketball.
