Numbers validate Steve Nash as one of the NBA's best point guards ever

Is Steve Nash the best NBA point guard of all-time? The numbers show he at least belongs in the conversation.

Author:
Ben Leibowitz
Publish date:
Aug 27, 2015

Steve Nash announced his retirement from the NBA earlier this year following a tumultuous three-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in which he missed 181 games (including the entire 2014–15 season). Nash was unable to stay on the court due to nerve damage in his back and was forced to call it quits as a result.

The Phoenix Suns and owner Robert Sarver will appropriately waste little time honoring the franchise legend who played there from 1996–98 and 2004–12. Nash will be inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor on Oct. 30 against Portland (the second home game of the new season) where he'll join past inductees like Charles Barkley, Connie Hawkins and Kevin Johnson among others.

The two-time MVP was a no-brainer to join the other names and faces adorning Talking Stick Resort Arena (formerly US Airways Center). He’s inarguably the best Phoenix Suns player of all time, but where does the Canadian floor general rank among other point guards in league history?

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“I would try to shoot as high a percentage as possible to save shots for my teammates and then shoot more in the fourth quarter. I had coaches tell me I was hurting our team at times by trying to set up my teammates, but I always thought I got it back by how I make them feel and incorporated them into the offensive scheme and the chemistry of the team.”

That Nash quote, relayed to Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher, represents his career in a nutshell. A humble player who was more interested in getting teammates involved and locked in rather than looking to score for himself. Unless, of course, the occasion called for his scoring chops.

Due to that, it only seems appropriate to start with the assists stat.

In terms of setting up teammates, only John Stockton and Jason Kidd trump Nash’s output. Compared directly to those guys from a sheer numbers standpoint, it seems as though Nash lags behind.

He has the lowest scoring output of the three, but he was the more efficient three-point shooter by a wide margin. Of course, Kidd and Stockton were adept at picking opponents’ pockets with more than 5,900 steals combined. Nash didn’t even collect 900 steals in his career and was never viewed as a good defender.

In addition to Stockton and Kidd, point guards like Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and even a more modern example in Chris Paul have all been vastly superior to Nash on the defensive end. Strictly in terms of offense, however, Nash truly deserves to be known as an all-time great.

50-40-90

Only six players in the history of the NBA have recorded a 50-40-90 season—shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from three-point territory and 90% at the free-throw line for an entire season. Only two of the six did so more than once.

Larry Bird made it happen in back-to-back seasons from 1986 through 1988. Nash, however, entered the exclusive club an astounding four times.

The only other point guard in the 50-40-90 club is Mark Price. Of the members, Nash holds the distinction of attempting the most and second-most three-pointers in a 50-40-90 campaign. (So while he certainly opted to pick his shots wisely, he wasn’t exactly being conservative.)

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Speaking of which, Nash’s legacy as one of the league’s all-time best shooters from distance is the stuff of legend. He ranks 10th in NBA history in three-point percentage and 15th in three-pointers made—a remarkable combination of efficiency and volume. Only Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks joins Nash by ranking in the top 15 all-time in each of those two categories.

A pick-and-roll maestro throughout his illustrious career, Nash frequently made opponents pay if they went under screens on the perimeter. If longtime teammates like Amar’e Stoudemire and Dirk Nowitzki weren’t open in those scenarios, Nash would happily pull up and often knock down treys.

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Nash is one of the league’s best outside shooters ever, but where he sits as the undisputed No. 1 guy is at the charity stripe.

The image of Nash slicking back his long locks over his ears, pantomiming his shooting form two or three times and licking his fingers before cashing more than 90% of his free throws won’t make the highlight reels, but he holds the top spot in the category, which is no small feat.

Awards … but no ring

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors joined an admittedly short list of MVP point guards by winning the award for 2014–15. Perhaps the sharpshooter will add a second to his mantel moving forward, but for the moment, only Nash and Earvin “Magic” Johnson have won multiple MVP awards at the position.

Of course, with three MVPs, three Finals MVPs and five championship rings, Johnson is far and away the best point guard the NBA has ever seen. Johnson had elite supporting casts in Lakerland that helped him win said titles. Nash played on solid teams of his own—particularly in Phoenix—but he’ll ultimately join a prestigious list of Hall of Famers never to win a ring: Stockton, Barkley, Karl Malone, etc.

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Defensive shortcomings and never reaching the NBA mountaintop by winning the Larry O’Brien trophy hinder Nash’s all-time standing against other point guards. But by pitting the entire body of work against his peers, Nash should be considered top 10 (perhaps even top five if you opt to put more emphasis on MVP awards). Magic, Jerry West, the Big O, Stockton, Payton, Cousy, Kidd, Isiah Thomas, Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Nash provide for a solid top-10 baseline of point guards in some order (so long as Johnson sits at No. 1).

Nash’s all-time rankings as a distributor and masterfully efficient shooter are second to none. He’ll be honored as a Suns Ring of Honor member in October, and his Hall of Fame induction won’t be far behind.

GALLERY: Classic photos of Steve Nash

Rare Photos of Steve Nash

Steve Nash

The two-time NBA MVP was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. His father played professional soccer and the family lived in a number of places before setting in Victoria City near Vancouver.

Steve Nash

Like most Canadian boys, Nash quickly fell in love with hockey. His favorite team was the Vancouver Canucks and his favorite player was Wayne Gretzky. He also played lacrosse and rugby, but didn't discover basketball until the eighth grade.

Steve Nash

Though he was one of the top basketball players in Canada, Nash was not highly regarded as a recruit. The only scholarship offer he received was to Santa Clara, on the condition that Nash improve his suspect defense.

Steve Nash

Nash was an immediate hit on the court, leading Santa Clara to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in five years. The No. 15 Broncos upset Arizona in the first round before losing to Temple the following game. Despite the loss, Nash had Santa Clara on the national radar. He would lead the team to two more tournament appearances over the next three years as he garnered a reputation as one of the nation's top point guards.

Steve Nash and Allen Iverson

Nash was selected by Phoenix with the 15th pick in the first round. He was considered the best pure point guard in the draft, compared to the natural scorers like Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury, who were also listed at the position.

Steve Nash and Yudi Abreu

Nash also competed for the Canadian National Team, culminating in the team's appearance at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. He also captained the team in 2004, but it did not qualify for an Olympic spot. In this photo, Nash drives around Cuba's Yudi Abreu during a Tournament of the Americas game in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Dallas Mavericks

After two mediocre seasons in Phoenix, Nash was traded to Dallas for Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells, Pat Garrity and a first-round draft pick. The Mavs struggled at first, but the drafting of Dirk Nowitzki and the acquisition of Michael Finley and Juwan Howard turned the Mavericks into contenders. The person with the biggest impact on Dallas' success was Mark Cuban, who purchased the team in 2000 and instantly turned them into contenders.

Dallas Mavericks

Under Cuban (second from left), the Mavs capitalized on the NBA's growth in international players including Eduardo Najera (Mexico), Wang Zhizhi (China), Steve Nash (Canada), Tariq Abdul-Wahad (France) and Dirk Nowitzki (Germany).

Western Conference All-Stars

Nash poses with the Western Conference All-Stars during the NBA's 2002 All-Star Weekend in Philadelphia. The point guard dished out nine assists in the team's 135-120 triumph.

Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki

Nash and then-Mavericks teammate Dirk Nowitzki take in an April 2003 Rangers game. The two made quite the tandem that year, with Nash averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists per game and Nowitzki racking up 25.1 points per game. Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the San Antonio Spurs.

Steve Nash

Nash shows off his soccer skills as Sports Illustrated writer Jack McCallum looks on.

Steve Nash and Jerry Colangelo

Established as one of the most unselfish players in the league, Nash received some hardware of his own in 2005. Jerry Colangelo presents him with the MVP Trophy, the first of two consecutive seasons he'd bring home the award.

Steve Nash and Fan

Nash squats to high-five one of his young admirers during a charity basketball event in 2005. He continues to be a fan-favorite, as he's been named to the All-Star Game seven times.

Yao Ming and Steve Nash

Never the tallest player in the NBA, the 6-foot-3 Nash looked shorter than ever when stationed next to the 7-foot-5 Yao Ming. Luckily, he's usually asked to guard Aaron Brooks and not the Chinese standout when Phoenix takes on Western Conference foe Houston.

Steve Nash

The view from above as Nash brings up the ball against Devin Harris and the Mavericks.

Steve Nash

Taking in another baseball game, Nash watches the Yankees play the Red Sox in 2008. He's an avid fan of baseball, soccer and hockey in addition to the NBA.

Steve Nash and Thierry Henry

Nash celebrates with Thierry Henry during the Showdown in Chinatown celebrity soccer match in New York City in 2008. A multi-sport talent, Nash also put his soccer skills on display during the 2005 Slam Dunk contest, heading a pass to Amare Stoudemire to spark a spectacular jam.

Steve Nash and Alejandra Amarilla

A celebrity off the court as well as on it, a sharply-dressed Nash takes a photo with wife Alejandra Amarilla. The couple has three children together, including their latest, Matteo, who was born on Nov. 12, 2010. They announced their divorce just one day after his birth.

Steve Nash and Jeff Van Gundy

Nash's versatility extends beyond the court, as he served as a reporter for the Late Show with David Letterman before a 2009 Finals game between the Magic and Lakers. Here, his interview subject is Jeff Van Gundy.

Steve Nash

The first NBA player ever to carry the Olympic Torch, Nash hoists the flame during the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Vancouver Games. He helped light the cauldron with fellow countrymen Wayne Gretzky, Nancy Greene and Catriona Lemay Doan.

Steve Nash

Known for his gritty play, Nash broke his nose in the 2010 Western Conference Finals after he was head-butted by a charging Derek Fisher. Toughened by his childhood as hockey player in Canada, he shook off the injury, then proceeded to shake off the Lakers. Phoenix cruised to a 118-109 in Game 3.

Steve, Lola and Bella Nash

Holding his twin daughters Lola and Bella, Nash takes a picture after the World Cup Final in 2010. The girls were born on Oct. 14, 2004.

Steve Nash and Ezra Holland

Nash smiles for the camera with Ezra Holland before the premiere of their movie Into the Wind in 2010. The story, Nash's filmmaking debut, details the tale of Terry Fox, a marathon runner trying to raise cancer awareness. It was featured in ESPN's 30 for 30 campaign.

Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire

A dynamic duo, Nash and Amare Stoudemire share an embrace during Game 2 of the 2010 Western Conference Finals. The Suns would drop the contest 124-112, but would stun the Lakers for victories in Games 3 and 4 to even the series at two. They suffered hard-fought losses in Games 5 and 6, though, as Los Angeles went on to claim a repeat NBA title.

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Numbers validate Steve Nash as one of the NBA's best point guards ever