(A large chapter of more than 9,000 words.) ）

The scorching heat of August makes people stay at home and enjoy it.

It's a relaxing time, no stress, a slow pace of life, and a lot of happiness in your heart.

For Steve Nash, this summer is the most beautiful summer in his opinion, and his whole mood is unprecedentedly happy.

No more restlessness, no more stress, and although his hands are still bare, he knows that he will have an extra ring on his finger in the opener of next season.

The ring weighed no less than the ring on his ring finger, and he fought until he was 40 years old.

A person's life is only more than 100 years, and at the age of 40, it means that his life is nearly halfway through.

Half a lifetime of working hard for a goal is great enough.

Touching his tired legs, it no longer had vitality, but it filled Nash's heart with gratitude.

In his league, how many people have a perfect start, but no perfect result.

Thankfully, he didn't get off to a good start, but the result was perfect enough.

"I'm still grateful for the past, and I'm grateful for what I am today."

Nash sat in his luxurious villa, holding a glass of cold drink, posing comfortably, and couldn't help but let out a low sneer.

Yes, the goal has been achieved, all the wishes have been achieved, what is there not to be satisfied with?

Now he doesn't have any pressure, he's thinking about what to do in the future.

But what is certain is that he will definitely indulge in a good time first and make up for the shortcomings of nearly 20 years as a professional footballer.

He's going to eat the high-calorie food, he's going to drink the wine he's always wanted to taste, he's going on an unbridled vacation with his wife, he's going to go with the kids wherever they want to go, and so on. These are the things that he was limited in as a player, and he has always had to adapt to the rigors of being a professional footballer.

Obviously, he did a very good job of these demanding requirements, otherwise, there would not be Nash, the son of the wind who is now popular in the world and has been famous for thousands of years, and the future Hall of Fame player.

Although he has given too much, Nash has no regrets or regrets.

He feels that the past forty years have been the most wonderful forty years for him, full of memories, and slowly looking back, the whole person's heart is full.

Close your eyes, think about it, everything is as if it is in front of you, extremely clear.

Slowly, Nash's face was filled with a smile of yearning and satisfaction.

It can be said that he has gone through ups and downs along the way, but it is extremely exciting.

He was born on February 7, 74, forty years ago, in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, which is a typical highland city at an altitude of 1,754 meters.

However, it was only where he was born, and he was there, and there was no clear memory.

Because not long after he was born, his parents took him to immigrate to Canada, and he became a Canadian, no longer a member of the South African nation.

His childhood was spent in cheerful and he could do whatever he wanted, playing football, basketball, ice hockey, chess, and more. He was immersed in his fanatical sport, which allowed him to develop and grow a lot, and it was at that time that he began to have a quality in his bones that would allow him to excel in the future.

Soon, he grew up and became a big boy with flowing blonde hair, and the budding of puberty made him very interested in the opposite sex. He clearly remembered his first girlfriend in high school, and now that he thinks about it, that girl is still so beautiful, and the memories that belong to them are forever buried in the depths of his heart.

It's a big shame that he and she weren't able to be together.

In the days that followed, when he remembered it, he always thought that none of them had anything wrong, and that it was the innocence of youth that was wrong.

Nash has always felt that that relationship is his most sincere and pure love, the most special and the most unforgettable.

After a flash in high school, Nash, immersed in the world of sports, finally made a choice, and after deliberation, he chose to join Santa Clara University.

It's a college that doesn't have a good name in the NCAA and hasn't been able to attract stars.

But why did he join such a university? The reason was that he had no choice, and he was criticized for his defensive deficiencies, which prevented him from enjoying the same treatment as other high school geniuses, and at that time, he had to join such a university.

Of course, Nash has thought more than once that when asked in the future, he will say that he has rejected other colleges because he loves Santa Clara University alone.

His four years at Santa Clara University are the time for him to show himself and build strong self-confidence, after four years of precipitation and sublimation, his style of play and technique have already been fully matured, and he has enjoyed countless honors in the West Coast region, which makes him very confident that he can play in the NBA immediately.

96 years, a legendary 96 years in NBA history!

Nash vividly remembers that in this year, the most powerful man in NBA history returned, and he led the Bulls to defeat the SuperSonics and get their fourth championship ring.

At that time, he had a different feeling, and for the first time before he played his first NBA game, he desperately wanted to get a championship ring that belonged to him.

And as soon as this idea was born, it took root in his heart and lingered.

In the rookie training camp in '96, he got to know a lot of people, the unruly Kobe Bryant, the elegant and agile Allen Iverson, the personable Ray Allen, the steel beast Ben Wallace and so on.

Too many rookies from the same class gathered together, and at that time, the media called their class the best rookie after '84, and Nash was quite recognized, and at the same time, he felt that he could get a good pick.

In training camp, a group of lads are all talking about the Bulls in private, secretly calling Michael Jordan an old hooligan. There is no pejorative meaning in this, and everyone speaks with endless adoration in their words.

However, Nash is the calmest, he doesn't see any difference in Jordan, they are all the same.

And what Nash remembers most is that an 18-year-old boy named Kobe Bryant always shows a strong fighting spirit when he mentions Jordan. From then on, Nash felt that Kobe Bryant would be a very special person.

Of course, in addition to Kobe, there is a man named Allen Iverson. Nash was surprised, he couldn't understand how a guy who was 4 inches shorter than him could be so powerful. He's the only player who is considered capable of threatening Jordan on heads-up, and while he's just a rookie, the media and they want to believe Iverson can do it.

"Kobe and Allen are the ones who made me feel a lot of pressure when I first met. From the day I entered the training camp, I kept an eye on them all the time, and I always used them as a benchmark against myself. We didn't have a friendship, but in some ways we were the closest. ”

The draft was a night that made Nash feel wronged.

He's a All-American player, he's the MVP of the West Coast, he's the owner of multiple team all-time records at Santa Clara University, he's won numerous honors, and he's proven himself in four years of college.

However, the underestimation experienced from high school to college is repeated.

He sat in the Little Green House, but was not selected in the matching order.

15 in order, he was chosen, which made his heart like an ice cave, depressed and uncomfortable, and there was really no joy.

And Phoenix, not the team he wants to go to.

At that time, Phoenix had an All-Star-caliber playmaker like Kevin Johnson, and at 30 years old, he was in his prime of play. He is a standard 20+10 point guard and has a very high status in the league.

So, Nash to the Suns, there is no doubt that he will not get much attention, at least until Kevin Johnson retires, he can only be used as Kevin Johnson's backup.

However, Nash had no choice, and his personality would not allow him to rebel against the team, and he chose to adapt to the Suns, switching from a central role at Santa Clara University to a backup guard role.

In the first two seasons of his career, he earned a lot of recognition for his accurate shooting and excellent passing. He shot over 41 percent from three-point range in both seasons. In his second year, he averaged 9.1 points in 20 minutes per game.

However, the expected change in circumstances did not materialize, and he was completely overshadowed by the performances of other rookies. A lot of the media still underestimate him, thinking that he is just a good substitute.

When it comes to the names of players who could become stars in the future of the Class of '96, Steve Nash is not among them.

This was very devastating to Nash, and he felt that he could do better, he just lacked opportunities.

Things finally took a turn for the worse in '98, when the Mavericks, who were in dire need of a point guard, traded Bubba Wells and Martin Musup and a first-round pick from the Suns for Nash in the draft.

The deal attracted little attention at the time.

In this way, Nash joined a team that could show himself, and he was gearing up to make a career.

When he first arrived in Dallas, he stood alone in the Kennedy Memorial Plaza in the middle of the night, shouting, "I'm going to be proud here, I swear, I'm going to do it." ”

At that time, the 25-year-old Nash endorsed the truth that "when God closes a door, he always opens a window." ”

With no end in sight, Nash's wait finally gave him a chance to prove himself.

He has always been grateful to the city of Dallas.

Without this team, it is likely that there would be no legendary Wind Son today.

Dallas groomed him as a core point guard, and no matter how he struggled or couldn't play due to injury, Dallas never gave up on him.

He thought, I have to play well and give back to the team that recognizes me.

In the two seasons of 98~00, he struggled with injuries.

After two years of honing his mind, he was finally reborn in Nirvana, and his career finally embarked on the road to take-off.

In the 00~01 season, the Mavericks achieved 53 wins and 29 losses. Nash's role as the team's manager is very crucial. His passing completely activated Mike Finley/Derk Nowitzki/Juwan Howard, and that year, he averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game, almost hitting 50+40+90 shooting.

The media started touting him, no one underestimated him anymore, and he was treated right.

It's just that no one thinks that he will be able to achieve higher achievements, and he will become an ordinary star player at best. Because, he is already 27 years old.

Over the next three years, the Mavericks Trident began to shine in the league, Nash was the most stable player, and Dallas began to take off.

Three years, two All-Stars, two-time All-3 Team.

Nash had a great accomplishment before he turned 30, and he's content and thankful for Nelson Sr., the crazy coach.

In his heart, Nelson Sr. was the person he respected the most. The elder Nelson gave him the most thorough understanding of run-and-gun tactics, and he didn't even know what kind of impact it would have on his career beyond the age of 30.

If the old Nelson is the enlightenment teacher, then D'Antoni is the Bole who makes him shine completely.

In '04, there was a lot of unpleasantness between him and Dallas. He returned to Phoenix, where he started his career, and by this time, the team was without Kevin Johnson, and it was completely his team.

At that moment, Nash was very happy, although he was 30 years old, many people thought that he could not have this team for too long, and even thought that he was just a helper that the Suns found for Stoudemire.

However, he has never been affected in any way, and after so many years of training, his mentality has long been as solid as a rock.

In the 04~05 season, he ushered in the peak of his career. As a playmaker, he has a fast and sharp style of play, a masterful passing spell, and a knack for throwing key shots that are no less than those of the scorers, and he is an offensive defender who can also shine brightly in the playmaker. This season, he played in 75 games, averaging 15.5 points, 11.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. He became the second player in Suns history to win the MVP and the first international player to win the MVP since Hakeem Olajuwon. He was named to the All-League Team for the first time in his career. At the same time, he was crowned assist king for the first time.

MVP, it's unimaginable, he's been excited all summer, and even wakes up late at night, talking incoherently, he's raising his eyebrows, he feels like he's on his way to success. This year, he was 31 years old.

He felt that his career had reached its highest point, because in the class of '96, except for Iverson, he was the only one who won the MVP. And at this time, he began to envy Kobe, the guy with three championship rings in his hand.

"If I could get a championship ring, I would be completely perfect for the rest of my life. Who would have thought that a white boy who has always been criticized could achieve such results? ”

Nash was satisfied, and he was left with one last wish and goal, which was a thought that had been ingrained in his heart since the day he entered the league, and he wanted a championship.

However, the madness continued, even beyond his personal expectations.

In the 05~06 season, he won the MVP for a second time, and the road to defending the title can be described as difficult, first with the Mavericks' Nowitzki leading the team to play like a rainbow, and then with Kobe's magical 81-point performance and a historic single-season scoring performance, then Billups led the Pistons to play the best record in regular season history, and finally James's gorgeous performance, but the Suns, who lacked many big generals, almost relied on Nash's one-man courage to bring the Suns to the status of the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Nash's contribution naturally deserves the title of MVP.

No matter what the outside world says, how much he opposes it, and how he criticizes Nash, he has truly become a player who can win MVP for a second time.

At that time, he felt that he was also a player who could be envied by others, at least those guys in the 96 class should envy him for winning two MVPs in a row as much as he envied Kobe Bryant's three championships.

He is the ninth player to win back-to-back MVP honors. Previously, only the Magic had won such an honor as an organizational defender.

"I can't believe I'm standing here today, I can't even believe that I was last year, it's really hard to be able to do it, but I didn't back down, I didn't give up."

He remembers that when he received the award, he said such words incoherently with excitement.

This is a true portrayal of his heart. For an older rookie from Santa Clara University with mediocre physical talent, who would have thought he would be able to achieve such an achievement? As he himself said, he still couldn't believe it was true. Because of his 10-year career, he realized that there are too many geniuses in this league and in this world.

But he did too many things that geniuses couldn't.

Really, in that year, he said to himself, just one championship, it is enough. After winning the championship, he ended his career immediately and was satisfied.

However, the subsequent experience made him realize that the championship was really just a dream, and God gave him unimaginable honors and experiences, but did not intend to give him the championship.

In the 06~07 season, he had 18.6 points and 11.6 assists, with a record shooting rate of 53.2%, a three-point shooting rate of 45.5%, and a free throw shooting rate of 89.9%. He didn't win another MVP, but he was named to the All-Team team for three consecutive years. Although he still failed to make it to the finals, Nash has gained absolute recognition.

He took the world by storm and he is one of the most influential superstars in the NBA.

He was in the spotlight, shining with a light that never appeared in him, and he eclipsed many geniuses.

In the offseason, he knew a lot of people were talking about him, and if he could add 10 shots per game, would he be able to win the scoring title. Will it be an Allen Iverson-esque player?

In that year, he himself thought about it. But he rejects the argument. He felt that this was the style of the Wind Child, and that passing was his instinct. He's just him, and he's always different from Iverson. It's like Iverson will never be Kobe. As for the scoring champion? He didn't think it was possible because he would never take 20 shots per game.

In the 07~08 season, at the age of 34, the golden age of the player has passed, but he is still firm in his goal and fighting for the championship. Urgency is his biggest motivation, and he wants to be the first player in the 96 class to win both the MVP and the championship. However, Kobe Bryant finally won the MVP this year, and he became the top man in the class of '96. And then Iverson and him.

However, he did not give up, he felt that as long as he worked hard, there would always be hope.

The following season, he dropped below 10 assists for the first time, and the Phoenix Suns didn't make it to the Finals. At the age of 35, he has completely become a veteran, and he began to hear a lot of voices "Nash is old" and "Nash has no crown for life......

"This is the hardest year of my career!"

This sentence is simply a fantasy for the Suns, for the fans, and for him, but with the bloody display of the vanished playoff tickets, from heaven to hell, it is like a line of separation, and the middle is mixed with endless sentimentality and helplessness. Even though despair was looming and the sun was fading into the darkness, he still had a fighting spirit.

"Tired and enjoying, no one can replace the light...... I'm Steve Nash, a white boy from Canada, I'm proud of myself and I'll never give up! ”

Such a voice was like a declaration of struggle, and he began to shock the alliance.

A legend of immortality begins......

In the summer of '09, he heard countless voices surrounding him talking about the end of his career.

However, in terms of statistics, he has been able to average 15.7 points, 9.7 assists, and 3 rebounds, which is still the level of a first-line guard in the league, and even before returning to Phoenix in 04, he has not been able to play.

He thought it was strange, why did everyone say he was old?

Because of age? Or is it because of what?

Is it questioning and criticizing? He thinks it's ridiculous, he's a two-time MVP, and no one can question him anymore.

Moreover, he has always been confident that he will not age so easily.

"I feel in great shape. I'm definitely more experienced than I used to be, but mentally and physically, I don't think I've changed much, and I'm still capable of doing the same. In fact, I believe that getting older isn't all bad, it can have some positive benefits, such as being more accurate in my shots or being more comfortable with the ball. My technology is probably better than it was five years ago. ”

He confidently responds to questions about his ageing.

His fervor did not go away, and he hoped to be able to gain faith before it was gone.

The so-called faith, of course, is the championship he is chasing hard, and it is what makes him willing to end his career.

He felt that he was still at a very high level, that he had not aged, and even said that if he wanted to fight back against the outside world's rhetoric, he could find a dozen answers to shut everyone up.

However, due to his character, he chose to remain silent.

However, his psychology is completely clear about himself, he is not old, and he is better than any legendary playmaker in history.

The two big point guards in the 80s, Magic Johnson and Thomas, both retired in their early 30s for their own reasons;

The great point guard of the Boston Dynasty, Coussy, averaged 13.2 points and 6.8 assists in the year he retired at the age of 34;

Robinson, the fifth-ranked "Big O" in total assists in history, posted 12.7 points and 6.4 assists in the year he retired at the age of 35;

"Glove" Payton averaged 14.6 points and 5.5 assists in the year he formed F4 with O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Malone at the age of 35;

Wiggins, a top 50 star and a thousand-win coach, averaged 20.5 points and 8.4 assists at the age of 35, but he took 17 shots, far more than Nash's six;

Hardaway, known as the "hand-changing dribble textbook" and averaging more than 8 assists in his career, had only 9.6 points and 5.5 assists at the age of 35;

Jackson, a point guard and second-highest assist in history, had 7.6 points and 8 assists at the age of 35;

"The ****** Maker" Kidd is a year older than Nash, and last season Kidd had 10.8 points and 10.1 assists, but shot just 38.5 percent from the field.

As for Stockton, who is known as the greatest traditional point guard in history and has been on the court for nearly 20 years, his 12 points and 8.5 assists at the age of 35 is also significantly different from the 14.4 points and 10.5 assists at the age of 34.

Measured by the contemporaneous period of these great point guards, Nash is still above par this season.

Just as he created four consecutive "20 points and 10 assists" on the road in March, and just as he still maintains a dreaded 50.3 percent shooting rate and 43.9 percent three-point shooting this season, he even feels that he still qualifies for the MVP of the year if the Suns maintain their old lineup and style of play.

"His physical strength is terrifying, and you never know when he's going to stop moving."

D'Antoni, who left the Knicks, stepped up to support him.

To this, he remembers his response at the time: "I'm always full of energy, like hyperactivity patients, I think it's hard for me to sit there and not move, when I want to pursue something, I try to focus on it." If my legs are still there, if my speed is still there, I can play a good game; If I don't have the speed, I'll try to play in a different way in that situation, in a smart way, to make the game easier. ”

He confidently felt that history was prepared for him.

After he said that, it was as if he had just joined the NBA, and he played at a high level, making all records obsolete and making all legendary point guards bow their heads.

36 years old, 16.5 points, 11.0 assists, 81 games, and became a member of the "180 Club" of 50+40+90 for the fourth time.

37 years old, 14.7 points, 11.4 assists, 75 games, shooting 49.2% from the field, 39.5% from three-point range, 91.2% from the free throw line.

38, 12.5 points, 10.7 assists, 62 games, shooting 53.2% from the field, 39.0% from three-point range, 89.4% from the free throw line.

For any athlete, 38 years old can be called an old age, especially in the more competitive NBA, 38 years old can be described as a candle in the end.

Ren is no legendary point guard in history, and he can't do the miracle of averaging two doubles per game for three consecutive years at the age of 36~38.

That's right, it's a miracle, a miracle that can't be broken in the next few decades.

The only one who can compare with him is the all-time assist king Stockton, at the age of 38, Stockton was able to contribute 11.5 points and 8.7 assists, shooting 50% from the field.

But in front of the great Sons of the Wind, it is still overshadowed.

"He was as great as John Stockton, but he couldn't avoid the same tragedy as John Stockton. Without a title for life, Steve Nash's career is coming to an end. ”

Even though he is still playing, he also feels that he can continue to play and continue to play at a high level.

But a lot of people started talking about not being able to win a championship in his career.

In fact, at the age of 38, he himself gave up, and he knew that the Suns would not be able to win the championship.

He began to want to live in Phoenix for the rest of his life, and finally bowed his head in front of fate and accepted that he would be crownless for life.

However, there are always so many turns, sign first and then change, three years, 27 million, he came to Los Angeles.

He doesn't care about money, and if he can, he's even willing to trade 27 million for a championship.

He was surprised, but pleasantly surprised, he never imagined that he would one day be teammates with Kobe, who was 4 years younger than him and still competitive, and the two of them were finally going to fight together for the final battle for the championship.

He was so excited that he never calmed down.

"Bryant is very competitive and he's always been one of my favorite and most respected players. I'm very happy to be a teammate with him. It's all like a dream, our style of play complements each other, and I think it's going to be a very special career. ”

He never imagined that he would one day be able to wear the Lakers' jersey, and even hated the Lakers a little. If it weren't for the Lakers, he might have won the championship a long time ago.

However, when he really joined, that hatred slowly disappeared, and he was more happy and enjoyable.

"Two great players, fighting for the last glory."

He knows that Kobe Bryant's dedication to the championship is no worse than his. So, to have such a teammate, he feels that his championship dream has come back to life.

In the dark night, touching his tired knees, he cheered himself on more than once: "Keep it up, Steve, maybe tomorrow you'll be the champion." ”

In this way, the last career, the time with the Lakers, began.

Kobe, Howard, Gasol, plus him, Nash was extremely determined at that time, and he felt that with such a lineup, there should be no problem in winning the championship.

Of course, there will definitely be a run-in period. He has patience and is willing to hold on for a few more years until this lineup is worn out.

However, what saddened him was that the contradiction between Kobe Bryant and Howard erupted.

He doesn't feel like a qualified veteran or a good dressing room leader. He even ignored the question of whether Kobe Bryant and Howard could coexist.

He was frustrated and stunned, and all hope came to naught, and at that moment, the dream of a champion was shattered again.

Kobe Bryant and Howard have different personalities, Kobe hates Howard's lack of seriousness, and Howard wants to take the Lakers' boss position from Kobe.

In this way, the contradictions grew, and the first season of the Big Four cooperation ended in failure.

In the offseason, Nash didn't give up, and he contacted Howard and Kobe Bryant several times in the hope of sewing the cracks on the Lakers.

However, all that awaited him was indifference, and from then on, his heart was like a cave of ice, and he knew that there was no hope for anything.

Howard is gone, Kobe Bryant is getting older, he has completely lost his sense of direction, and the Lakers' big ship is completely out of reach.

The championship dream was shattered again, spending the summer in the dark, and he even thought about retiring more than once.

"If I do retire, that's probably the biggest regret. A young man came down with the glory of God, and that was the beginning of a miracle that anyone who witnessed it would have been incredulous to believe. ”

In the summer of '13, the Lakers had an extra staff member named Chu Xuan. From scout, to assistant coach, to head coach, he only took a few months, and the pace was simply jaw-dropping.

This resonated deeply with Nash, as if he saw another self, from the bench, to the main team, to the MVP, he was not climbing step by step in shock.

"In my opinion, the best thing about him is not his ability to teach, but his ability to read people, and every one of his signings is a success. This is the beginning of hope and the foundation of success. ”

When it comes to the last manager of his career, he wants to say more about it.

In his opinion, Chu Xuan's success only relied on the terrifying vision of people, he dared to use people, and he was very bold and confident.

Under getting along, he felt that the Lakers were better than when Howard was there, how much young blood was filled, the Lakers completed a big change, and under the burst of talent, he saw the dawn of winning the championship again.

Three seasons at most, the Lakers will definitely have a chance to win the championship, and he will be 42 years old at the time.

Nash's thoughts kept him going, and his old body continued to be washed by sweat.

To his surprise, in just the first season, the Lakers achieved success, the first record in the West, and the playoffs all the way through the thorns, stepping on the Heat, and successfully reaching the top of the pyramid.

At that moment, his rock-solid heart went crazy, and happiness was like a torrent, which washed him away with a feeling of dizziness.

When the golden O'Brien Cup was placed in front of him, his whole body was trembling, and he secretly pinched himself, for fear that he was dreaming.

Chu Xuan handed him the trophy, and that cold sense of substance made him understand that this was the reality, and at the age of 40, he finally got his wish.

Holding the trophy tightly, he was no longer strong at that moment, and the torrent in his heart found an outlet.

Under the eyes of the whole world, he cried like a child.

Tears, dripping down, sprinkled in the hands.

Warm slices

He shuddered, his memory coming to an end, and he became a little bit of reality.

……

Slowly opening his eyes, feeling the coldness of the cup in his hand, feeling the warmth of the corners of his eyes and the soreness of his nose, Nash had an indescribable taste.

20 years, when I think about it now, is so short.

He's been through everything he's been through, and it's time for it to end.

But why is there so much reluctance in my heart?

habitually wants to do something related to basketball, but when he sobers up, he can't help but shake his head and chuckle, love really has no end......

He has to think about it, maybe in this life, he will always be with basketball, but in a different way.

At this moment, who did he naturally think of?

Bryant, Iverson, Nelson Sr., Dirk, D'Anthony, Amare, Chu ......

Nash felt like he had a lot to say to these people, but he didn't have any urgency because he had time.

"Chu Xuan and I are also teachers and friends, everything he does is legendary, although we have only worked together for one season, my respect for him can be completely equal to that of old Nelson and Mr. Mike. He gave me the most precious gift of retirement, and I have nothing to reciprocate. ”

Thinking of Chu Xuan, Nash's heart was full of gratitude.

Is his relationship over?

Nash had a wistful smile on his face, and he didn't think so.

Because, the end is only for a new beginning. (To be continued.) )