Dirk Werner Nowitzk and Steve Nash

Dirk Werner Nowitzki (German pronunciation: [ˈdɪʁk ˈvɛʁnɐ noˈvɪtski]) (born June 19, 1978) is a German professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ11E Battery

An alumnus of Röntgen Gymnasium and DJK Würzburg basketball club, Nowitzki was drafted ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1998 NBA Draft, and was immediately traded to the Mavericks, where he has played ever since. Standing 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), Nowitzki plays the power forward position but also has the mobility, size, and shooting ability to play the other frontcourt positions, center and small forward. Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ11L Battery

Nowitzki has led the Mavericks to eleven consecutive NBA Playoffs (2000–01 to 2010–11), including an NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and the franchise's first championship in 2011, making him one of only five players in NBA history to win the championship while being the only NBA All-Star on the team. Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ11M Battery He is a ten-time All-Star and eleven-time member of the All-NBA Teams, and is the first European-born player in NBA history to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player award.[1] He is the first Maverick ever to be voted into an All-NBA Team and also holds several all-time Mavericks franchise records.[ Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ11S Battery

2] Only Nowitzki and three other players have ever averaged more than 25 points and 10 rebounds in the NBA playoffs, and only Nowitzki and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have managed four consecutive 30-point 15-rebound games in the playoffs. Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ11Z Battery

 Additionally, Nowitzki is the only player in NBA history to get over 100 blocks and 150 three-pointers in a single season.[2] Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ130E/B Battery

Nowitzki led the German national basketball team to a bronze medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and the silver medal in EuroBasket 2005, and was leading scorer and elected Most Valuable Player in both tournaments. Nowitzki has been a seven-time European Player of the Year, Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ140E Battery

being named the Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year by the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport for five years in a row, the Mister Europa European Player of the Year by the Italian sports magazine Superbasket in 2005, and the FIBA Europe Basketball Player of the Year the same year.[2] Sony Vaio VGN-SR11M/R Battery

Born in Würzburg, Germany, Dirk Nowitzki comes from a sports family: his mother Helga Nowitzki was a professional basketball player and his father Jörg-Werner was a handball player who represented Germany at the highest international level. Sony Vaio VGN-SR21M/S Battery

3] His older sister Silke Nowitzki, a local champion in track and field, also became a basketball player and now works for the NBA in International TV.[2][4] Dirk Nowitzki was a very tall child; most of the time he stood above his peers by a foot or more.[3Sony Vaio VGN-SR31M/S Battery

] He initially played handball and tennis, but soon grew tired of being called a "freak" for his height and eventually turned to basketball.[5] After joining the local DJK Würzburg, the 15-year-old attracted the attention of former German international basketball player Holger Geschwindner, who spotted his talent immediately and offered to coach him individually two to three times per week. Sony Vaio VGN-SR41M/R Battery

After getting both the approval of Nowitzki and his parents, Geschwindner put his pupil through an unorthodox training scheme: Sony Vaio VGN-SR41M/S Battery

he emphasized shooting and passing exercises, and shunned weight training and tactical drills, because he felt it was "unnecessary friction."[6] Furthermore, Geschwindner encouraged Nowitzki to play a musical instrument and read literature to make him a more complete personality.[6] Sony Vaio VGN-SR41M/W Battery

After a year, the coach was so impressed that he said to his pupil: "You must now decide whether you want to play against the best in the world or just stay a local hero in Germany. If you choose latter, we will stop training immediately, because nobody can prevent that anymore. But if you want to play against the best, we have to train on a daily basis. Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/P Battery

" After pondering for two days, Nowitzki decided on the former. Geschwindner let him train seven days a week with DJK Würzburg players and future German internationals Robert Garrett, Marvin Willoughby and Demond Greene, and in the summer of 1994, the 16-year-old Nowitzki made the DJK squad.[7] Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/W Battery

DJK Würzburg (1994–98)

When Nowitzki joined the team, DJK played in the Second Bundesliga, South Division. His first trainer was Pit Stahl, who played the tall teenager as an outside-scoring forward rather than an inside-scoring center to utilise his shooting skills.[8Sony Vaio VGN-CS11Z/R Battery

] In the 1994–95 Second Bundesliga season, ambitious DJK finished as a disappointing sixth of 12 teams; the rookie Nowitzki was often benched and struggled with bad school grades, which forced him to study rather than work on his game.[9] In the next 1995–96 Second Bundesliga season, Nowitzki established himself as a starter next to Finnish star forward Martti Kuisma and soon became a regular double-digit scorer: Sony Vaio VGN-CS11Z/T Battery

 after German national basketball coach Dirk Bauermann saw him score 24 points in a DJK game, he stated that "Dirk Nowitzki is the greatest German basketball talent of the last 10, maybe 15 years." DJK finished second in the South Division, but could not earn promotion after losing 86–62 in the deciding match versus BG Ludwigsburg: in that game, Nowitzki scored only eight points.[10] Sony Vaio VGN-CS21S/P Battery

In the 1996–97 Second Bundesliga season, the team's top scorer Kuisma left the team, and Holger Geschwindner replaced Pit Stahl as head coach. Filling Kuisma's void, Nowitzki averaged 19.4 points per game and led DJK again to second place after the regular season, but could not help his team gain promotion.[1Sony Vaio VGN-CS21S/R Battery

1] In the following 1997–98 Second Bundesliga season, Nowitzki finished his "Abitur" (German A-levels), but had to do his compulsory military service in the Bundeswehr (German Military) which lasted from September 1, 1997 to June 30, 1998;[ Sony Vaio VGN-CS21Z/Q Battery

2] Nowitzki described this period as "a tough time at first; we had no privileges and had to participate in all the drills . . . later [after finishing the tough "Grundausbildung," the most intensive initial part of the service] it was much more relaxed."[1Sony Vaio VGN-CS31S/R Battery

2] Concerning basketball, the 18-year old, who had grown to 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) tall, made progress, leading DJK to a 36:4 point total (in Germany, a victory gives 2:0 points and a loss 0:2) and ending as leading scorer with 28.2 points per game. Sony Vaio VGN-AW21M/H Battery

 In the promotion playoffs, DJK finally broke its hex, finishing at first place with 14:2 points and earning promotion; Nowitzki scored 26 points in the deciding 95–88 win against Freiburg and was voted "German Basketballer of the Year" by the German BASKET magazine.[13] Sony Vaio VGN-AW21S/B Battery

Abroad, Nowitzki's progress was noticed. In 1996, FC Barcelona Bàsquet wanted to sign him, but Nowitzki refused to move before finishing his German A-levels.[14] A year later, the teenager participated in the Nike "Hoop Heroes Tour," where he played against NBA stars like Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen. In a 30-minute show match, Sony Vaio VGN-AW21Z/B Battery

 Nowitzki outplayed Barkley and even dunked on him, causing the latter to exclaim: "The boy is a genius. If he wants to enter the NBA, he can call me."[1Sony Vaio VGN-AW31ZS/B Battery

5] On March 29, 1998, Nowitzki was chosen to play in the Nike Hoop Summit, one of the premier talent watches in U.S. men's basketball. In a match between the U.S. talents and the international talents, Nowitzki scored 33 points on 6-of-12 shooting, Sony Vaio VGN-AW31ZJ/B Battery

14 rebounds and 3 steals for the internationals[2] and outplayed future US NBA stars Rashard Lewis and Al Harrington. He impressed with a combination of quickness, ball handling, and shooting range, and from that moment a multitude of European and NBA clubs wanted to recruit him.[16] Sony Vaio VGN-CS31S/W Battery

Dallas Mavericks (1998–present)

Difficult start (1998–99)

After leading DJK Würzburg to promotion and with his Abitur and military service behind him, Nowitzki looked to the NBA for his future. Projected to be seventh pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, he passed up many college offers and leapt directly into the NBA as a then-still rare prep-to-pro player.[17] In particular, Rick Pitino and Don Nelson, Sony Vaio VGN-CS31S/T Battery

 head coaches of the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks respectively, were highly interested in acquiring him. After a 45-minute private workout with Pitino, Sony Vaio VGN-CS31S/P Battery

where Nowitzki showcased his versatile shooting, rebounding and passing skills, the Boston coach immediately compared him to Celtics legend Larry Bird; Pitino assured Nowitzki that he would draft him with the Celtics' first-round draft pick at number ten.[18] Sony Vaio VGN-CS31Z/Q Battery

However, Pitino's plan was foiled by Nelson, whose team had the sixth pick. Nelson worked out draft day deals with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns: the Mavericks wanted Nowitzki and Suns reserve point guard Steve Nash; Sony Vaio VGN-CS21S/W Battery

the Bucks desired muscular forward Robert Traylor, who was projected to be drafted before Nowitzki; and the Suns had set their sights on forward Pat Garrity, who was projected as a low first round pick. In the draft, Sony Vaio VGN-CS21S/T Battery

the Mavericks drafted Traylor with their sixth pick, and the Bucks selected Nowitzki with their ninth and Garrity with their nineteenth pick. The Mavericks then traded Traylor to the Bucks for Nowitzki and Garrity, and they in return traded the latter to Phoenix for Nash. Sony Vaio VGN-NW21MF Battery

In retrospect, Don Nelson, who had once coached the Bucks, had an outstanding trade instinct, essentially trading future career underachievers Traylor and Garrity for two future NBA MVPs in Nowitzki and Nash; in addition, Sony Vaio VGN-NW21EF Battery

 the new recruits quickly became close friends.[18] Nowitzki became only the fourth German player in NBA history, following pivots Uwe Blab and Christian Welp and All-Star swingman Detlef Schrempf, who was a 35-year old veteran player of the Portland Trail Blazers when his young compatriot arrived.[17] Nowitzki finished his DJK career as the only Würzburg player to have ever made the jump into the NBA.[19] Sony Vaio VGN-NW21JF Battery

In Dallas, Nowitzki joined a franchise which had last made the playoffs in 1990. Shooting guard Michael Finley captained the squad, supported by 7-foot-6-inch (2.29 m) center Shawn Bradley, once a number two draft pick, and team scoring leader Cedric Ceballos, Sony Vaio VGN-NW21ZF Battery

 an ex-Laker forward. Nowitzki experienced a rocky start: prior to the 1998–99 NBA season, NBA commissioner David Stern wanted to introduce a salary cap, causing the NBA players' union to declare a strike, the combination putting the entire season in jeopardy. Sony Vaio VGN-NW31EF Battery

 In limbo, Nowitzki returned to DJK Würzburg and played thirteen games before both sides worked out a late compromise that resulted in a shortened 1998–1999 schedule of only 50 instead of 82 regular season games.[20] Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/T Battery

When the season finally started, Nowitzki struggled. Played as a power forward by coach Don Nelson, the lanky 20-year old felt overpowered by the more athletic NBA forwards, was intimidated by the expectations as a number nine pick, Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/Q Battery

and played bad defense, causing hecklers to taunt him as "Irk Nowitzki," omitting the "D" which stands for "defense" in basketball slang.[21] He only averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 20.4 minutes of playing time.[ Sony Vaio VGN-NW21ZF Battery

22] Looking back, Nowitzki said: "I was so frustrated I even contemplated going back to Germany... [the jump from Second Bundesliga to the NBA] was like jumping out of an airplane hoping the parachute would somehow open." The Mavericks only won 19 of their 50 games and missed the playoffs,[23] although Nowitzki completed the season with eight double-digit scoring games out of the last twelve.[2] Sony Vaio VGN-NW31EF Battery

Mark Cuban and the "Big Three" (1999–2004)

1999–2000 season

In the 1999–2000 NBA season, Don Nelson wanted to use Nowitzki as a point forward to make use of his passing skills.[24] However, one of the most important moves was made off the hardwood: until then, the owner of the Mavericks was Ross Perot, Jr., who had bought the franchise for $125 million, Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/T Battery

 but had no plans of investing in players and admitted he knew little of basketball.[25] On January 4, 2000, he sold the Mavericks to Internet billionaire Mark Cuban for $280 million. Cuban quickly invested into the Mavericks and restructured the franchise, Sony Vaio VGN-CS11S/Q Battery

attending every game at the sidelines, buying the team a $46 million six-star Boeing 757 for traveling, and increasing franchise revenues to over $100 million. Nowitzki lauded Cuban: "He created the perfect environment... we only have to go out and win."[26Sony Vaio VGN-NS38E/S Battery

] As a result of Nelson's tutelage, Cuban's improvements and his own progress, Nowitzki significantly improved his averages. The second-year pro now scored 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 35.8 minutes,[22Sony Vaio VGN-NS12M/S Battery

] had nine double-double games, and scored a career-high 32 points twice.[2] He was voted runner-up in the NBA Most Improved Player Award behind Jalen Rose, and made it into the NBA All-Star Sophomore squad along with peers Paul Pierce and Vince Carter. Sony Vaio VGN-NS36E Battery

 [2] In the traditional Rookie-Sophomore match, he scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists in an overtime loss against the rookie team led by Steve Francis and Lamar Odom.[2Sony Vaio VGN-BZ11EN Battery

7] The 7-foot-0-inch (2.13 m) Nowitzki also was chosen for the NBA All-Star Three Point Shootout, becoming the tallest player ever to participate. Sony Vaio VGN-BZ12EN Battery

After draining 15 three point shots in a row in the first shootout, he entered the final round, where he finished as runner-up to Jeff Hornacek.[27] While he improved on an individual level, the Mavericks missed the playoffs after a mediocre 40–42 season.[27] Sony Vaio VGN-BZ11XN Battery

2000–01 season

In the following 2000–01 NBA season, Nowitzki further improved his averages, recording 21.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.[2Sony Vaio VGN-BZ12XN Battery

2] Now playing the power forward position, he became the second player in NBA history after Robert Horry to score 100 three-pointers and 100 blocks in the regular season by registering 151 and 101, respectively.[2] As a sign of his growing importance, Sony Vaio VGN-BZ12XN Battery

he joined team captain Finley as only one of two Mavericks to play and start in all 82 games and had 10 games in which he scored at least 30 points.[2] Nowitzki became the first Maverick ever to be voted into the All-NBA squads, making the Third Team.[2Sony Vaio VGN-BZ21VN Battery

] In addition, his best friend Nash became a valuable point guard, and with Finley scoring more than ever, pundits were calling this trio the "Big Three" of the Mavericks. Sony Vaio VGN-BZ21XN Battery

Posting a 53–29 record in the regular season,[28] the Mavericks reached the playoffs for the first time since 1990.[ Sony Vaio VGN-BZ31XT Battery

29] As the fifth seed, they were paired against the Utah Jazz of all-time assist leader John Stockton and second all-time leading scorer Karl Malone. After losing the first two games, Nowitzki scored 33 points in both games 3 and 4 and helped to tie the series.[30Sony Vaio VGN-BZ31VT Battery

] In Game 5, the Mavericks trailed the entire game until Calvin Booth drained a jump shot which put them ahead 84–83 with 9.8 seconds to go. Jazz players Bryon Russell and Malone missed last-second shots and the Mavericks won, setting up a meeting with Texas rivals San Antonio Spurs of All-Star power forward Tim Duncan.[30Sony Vaio VPC-CW1S1E/B Battery

] The Mavericks lost their first three games, and Nowitzki fell ill with flu and later lost a tooth after a collision with Spurs guard Terry Porter. After a Game 4 win, Nowitzki scored 42 points and 18 rebounds in Game 5, but could not prevent a deciding 105–87 loss.[ Sony Vaio VPC-CW1S1E/L Battery

31] While Sports Illustrated pointed out that the Mavericks shot badly during Game 5, Nowitzki was lauded for scoring his playoff career-high 42 points. The German said: "It's a disappointment to end the season on a blowout."[32] Sony Vaio VPC-CW1S1E/R Battery

2001–02 season

Prior to the 2001–02 NBA season, Nowitzki signed a six-year, $90 million contract extension, which made him the second highest-paid German athlete after Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.[3Sony Vaio VGN-NS38M/W Battery

3] He continued to improve, now averaging 23.4 points, Sony Vaio VPC-CW1S1E/W Battery

9.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, was voted into the All-NBA Second Team and into his first All-Star Game.[ Sony Vaio VGN-AW11S/B Battery

22] He also had 13 games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, third behind Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan.[2] Powered by new recruit Nick Van Exel, who became a high-scoring sixth man, the Mavericks "Big Three" convincingly made the playoffs with a 57–25 record.[34] Sony Vaio VGN-NS38E/S Battery

The Mavericks swept Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2002 NBA Playoffs 3–0: Nowitzki outscored Garnett with 33.3 points per game versus 24.0.[35] In the second round, the Mavericks met the Sacramento Kings with rival power forward Chris Webber. After splitting the first two games, Sony Vaio VGN-AW11XY/Q Battery

 Kings coach Rick Adelman changed his defensive scheme: before, Webber had defended Nowitzki one-on-one, but now, the Kings coach ordered his smaller but quicker player Hedo Turkoglu to cover the German. Turkoglu should use his agility to play Nowitzki tightly, and if the taller Maverick tried to post up Turkoglu, Webber would double team Nowitzki.[3Sony Vaio VGN-AW21XY/Q Battery

6] In Game 3 in Dallas, the Mavericks lost 119–125; Nowitzki scored only 19 points and said: "I simply could not pass Turkoglu, and if I did, I ran into a double team and committed too many turnovers."[36] In Game 4, more frustration awaited the German: the Mavericks gave away a 14-point lead, Sony Vaio VGN-AW31XY/Q Battery

 although the entire Kings starting frontcourt of center Vlade Divac and power forward Chris Webber (both fouled out) and small forward Peja Stojakovic (injury) were eliminated in the closing stages of the game. Nowitzki missed two potentially game deciding jump shots, and the Mavericks lost 113–115 at home. Sony Vaio VGN-NS10E/S Battery

In Game 5, the demoralised Texans were no match for the spirited Kings, lost 101–114 and were eliminated again.[37] Among others, nba.com remarked that the Kings defended better than the Mavericks:[3Sony Vaio VGN-NS10L/S Battery

8] in those five games, the statisticians counted 115 Sacramento layups against the Mavericks, meaning the Kings averaged 23 uncontested baskets (i.e. 46 easy points) per game.[39] However, Nowitzki received a consolation award: the Gazzetta dello Sport voted him as "European Basketballer of the Year," Sony Vaio VGN-NS11J/S Battery

 his 104 votes lifting him over second-placed Dejan Bodiroga (54) and Stojakovic (50).[40]

2002–03 seasonSony Vaio VGN-NS20E/P Battery

Before the 2002–03 NBA season, Don Nelson and Mark Cuban put more emphasis on defense in the training drills, specialising in a zone defense anchored by prolific shotblockers Raef LaFrentz and Shawn Bradley. The Mavericks won their first 11 games, and Finley, Nash and Nowitzki were voted "Western Conference Players of the Month" in November 2002.[ Sony Vaio VGN-NS20M/S Battery

41] In that season, Nowitzki lifted his averages again, now scoring 25.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.[22] In addition, the German had 41 double-double games, the seventh highest figure that season. By averaging 25.1, he became the first European to score 2,000 points in a season.[2Sony Vaio VGN-NS30E/S Battery

] As a reward, he was voted into the All-Star game and the All-NBA Second Team again,[22] and was also runner-up in the "German Athlete of the Year" election, only losing to ski jumper Sven Hannawald.[ Sony Vaio VGN-NS30Z/S Battery

42] He led the Mavericks to a franchise-high 60–22 record, which earned them the third seed: as a result, the Mavericks had to play sixth seed Portland Trail Blazers in the 2003 NBA Playoffs.[43] Now playing in a best-of-seven series instead of the former best-of-five, Dallas quickly won the first three games, Sony Vaio VGN-NS20EF/P Battery

but then the Mavericks completely lost their rhythm and lost the next three matches. In Game 7, Portland held the game close, but 90 seconds before the end, Nowitzki hit a clutch three point shot, and the game ended 107–95 for the Mavericks. Sony Vaio VGN-NS20EF/S Battery

 "This was the most important basket of my career," he later said, "I was not prepared to go on vacation that early."[44] He later added in an ESPN interview: "We had to be more physical in the paint and rebound the ball. We worked hard all season to get the home-court advantage and we used that advantage today."[45] Sony Vaio VGN-NS20EF/W Battery

In the next round, the Mavericks met the Kings again. After losing the first game at home by a score of 113–124, Nowitzki (25 points) and veteran sixth man Van Exel (36) led Dallas to a spectacular 132–110 Game 2 win in which the Mavericks scored 83 points in the first half.[44] Helped by the fact that Kings star forward Chris Webber injured his meniscus, Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ21E Battery

Nowitzki and Van Exel led the Mavericks to a 141–137 overtime win in Game 3, before dropping Game 4 83–99, where Nowitzki only scored 11 points and was ejected after angrily kicking over a load of towels.[44] After splitting the next two games, Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ21J Battery

 Nowitzki delivered a clutch performance in Game 7, scoring 30 points, grabbing 19 rebounds and playing strong defense, and led the Mavericks to a series-deciding 112–99 win.[44] ESPN lauded Nowitzki as "Big D," and after again winning a Game 7, the German added: "We've really learned how to close games out."[46] Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ21M Battery

In the Western Conference Finals, the Mavericks met the San Antonio Spurs of Tim Duncan again. In Game 1 in San Antonio, Nowitzki scored 38 points on Duncan and led his team to a 113–110 win. In Game 2, Duncan quickly put Nowitzki in foul trouble, and the Spurs equalised the series with a 132–110 win. In Game 3, Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ21S Battery

 fate struck as Nowitzki went up for a rebound and Spurs guard Manu Ginóbili collided with his knee, forcing him out of the series: without their top scorer, Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ21Z Battery

 the Mavericks still fought valiantly and trailed 2–3, before Spurs guard Steve Kerr got hot from three-point range late in Game 6 to end the series.[47] Don Nelson later commented: "We were playing so well for so long and the bottom just dropped out. Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ31E Battery

.. We went cold at the wrong time."[48] Nowitzki only took little consolation in the fact that he again was voted "European Basketballer of the Year"[47] and was named "Best European Basketballer" in a general survey of the NBA general managers.[2] Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ31J Battery

2003–04 season

In the 2003–04 NBA season, Mark Cuban and Don Nelson decided to add more offensive wing players to their squad. As a result, the Mavericks acquired two All-Star forwards, namely Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Antawn Jamison (along with Danny Fortson, Sony  VAIO VGN-FZ31M Battery

• Jiri Welsch and Chris Mills, for Van Exel and role players) and Antoine Walker (Boston Celtics) who came for center Raef LaFrentz. Basketball experts were wary about latter trade, because it sent away the Mavericks starting center; they argued it left a hole in the middle that the aging, injury-prone backup pivot Shawn Bradley could not fill anymore.[4Sony  VGP-BPS9A Battery
• 9] Unable to trade for a new center, Don Nelson decided to start the prolific rebounder Nowitzki at pivot, put Walker on Nowitzki's usual power forward spot and played Jamison as a high-scoring sixth man.[50] To cope with his more physical role, Nowitzki put on 20 lb (9.1 kg) of muscle mass over summer, sacrificed part of his agility, Sony  VGP-BPS9B Battery
• and put more emphasis on defense rather than scoring:[51] as a result, his averages fell for the first time in his career, dropping to 21.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game,[22] but he still led the Mavericks in scoring, rebounding, steals (1.2 spg) and blocks (1.35 bpg).[2Sony  VAIO VGP-BPS13A/B Battery
• ] These figures earned him nominations for the All-Star game and the All-NBA Third Team.[22] Compiling a 52–30 record, the Mavericks met their familiar rivals Sacramento Kings again, but were eliminated in just five games.[52] Sony  VAIO VGP-BPS13/S Battery

Franchise player (2004–present)

Nowitzki (no. 41) has been the face of the Mavericks franchise.

2004–05 season

• Before the 2004–05 NBA season, the Mavericks were re-tooled again. Defensive center Erick Dampier was acquired from the Golden State Warriors, but Nowitzki's close friend Steve Nash left Dallas and returned to the Phoenix Suns as a free agent. During the season, long-time head coach Don Nelson resigned, Sony  VAIO VGP-BPS13A/S Battery
• and his assistant Avery Johnson took on coaching duties. In the midst of these changes, Nowitzki stepped up his game and averaged 26.1 points a game (a career-high) 9.7 rebounds, and his 1.5 blocks and 3.1 assists were also career numbers.[2Sony  VAIO VGP-BPS13/Q Battery
• 2] In addition, Nowitzki scored at least 10 points in every game and was only one of four players who registered at least 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. This was also his second 2,000 point season, his 26.1 points scoring average set a new record by a European player.[ Sony  VAIO VGP-BPS13A/Q Battery
• 2] On December 2, 2004, Nowitzki scored 53 points in an overtime win against the Houston Rockets, a career best.[2] As a reward, Nowitzki was voted to the All-NBA First Team for the first time.[22] He also placed third in the league's MVP voting, Sony  VAIO VGP-BPS13B/Q Battery

 behind Nash and Shaquille O'Neal. By being elected to the All-NBA First Team, Nowitzki became the first player who did not attend a United States high school or college to be on the All-NBA First Team.  Sony  VGP-BPS14 battery

However, the Mavericks had a subpar 2005 NBA Playoffs campaign. In the first round, Dallas met the Houston Rockets of scoring champion Tracy McGrady and 7–6 center Yao Ming, and Nowitzki was expected to average high figures against unheralded forward Ryan Bowen: nba.com described Bowen as "overmatched" versus the German.[5Sony VAIO VGN-CR21E Battery

3] Instead, Bowen limited Nowitzki to just 21 points in Game 1[53] and 26 points in Game 2, where the latter only hit 8 of 26 shots from the field.[54] The Rockets took a 2–0 lead before the Mavericks won three games in a row. After losing Game 6, Dallas won Game 7 convincingly and won the series even though Nowitzki struggled with his shooting.[5Sony VAIO VGN-CR21S Battery

5] In the Western Conference Semifinals, the Mavericks met the Phoenix Suns, the new club of Nash. They split the first four games, before the Suns won the last two games. In Game 6, which the Mavericks lost in overtime, Nowitzki was again not at his best: Sony VAIO VGN-CR21SR Battery

he scored 28 points, but also sank only 9 of his 25 field goal attempts;[56] in addition, he was visibly irritated, repeatedly shouting at his team mates and missing all his five shots in overtime.[57] Sony VAIO VGN-CR21Z Battery

2005–06 season

Prior to the 2005–06 NBA season, veteran Mavericks captain Michael Finley was waived over the summer, and now Nowitzki was the last player remaining from the Mavericks' "Big Three" of Nash, Finley, and himself. Nowitzki blossomed as the sole franchise player, averaging 26.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Sony VAIO VGN-CR31E Battery

 Not only was this his third 2,000 point season, but his scoring average of 26.6 points was highest ever by a European.[22] He improved his shooting percentage, setting personal season records in field goals (48.0%), three-point shots (40.6%) and free throws (90.1%).[Sony VAIO VGN-CR31S Battery

22] During the 2006 All-Star Weekend in Houston, Nowitzki scored 18 points to defeat Seattle SuperSonics guard Ray Allen and Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas in the Three-Point Shootout contest.[58] Sony VAIO VGN-CR31SR Battery

Nowitzki paced the Mavericks to a 60-win season. The team finished with the third-best record in the league, behind the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons.[59] Sony VAIO VGN-CR31Z Battery

 As in the 2004–05 season, he finished third in the league's MVP voting, this time behind Nash and LeBron James. He was again elected to the first team All-NBA squad.[22] Nowitzki confirmed his superstar status during the playoffs as he averaged 27.0 points, Sony VAIO VGN-CR31ZR Battery

 11.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.[22] The Mavericks swept the Memphis Grizzlies with 4–0, with Nowitzki's most spectacular play being a clutch three-point shot in the closing seconds of Game 3 which tied the game and forced overtime. In the Western Conference Semifinals, the Mavericks played against the San Antonio Spurs again. Sony VAIO VGN-CR41S Battery

After splitting the first six games, the Mavericks took a 20-point lead in Game 7 before Spur Manu Ginóbili broke a tie at 101 by hitting a clutch three-point shot with 30 seconds left. On the next play, Nowitzki completed a three-point play, Sony VAIO VGN-CR41SR Battery

 which tied the game at 104. In the end, the Mavericks won 119–111, and Nowitzki ended the game with 37 points and 15 rebounds.[60] Nowitzki commented: "I don't know how the ball went in. Manu hit my hand. It was a lucky bounce."[60] Sony VAIO VGN-CR41Z Battery

The Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they would again meet Nash and the Phoenix Suns. Nowitzki scored 50 points to lead the Mavericks to a victory in the crucial Game 5 with the series tied 2–2; the Mavericks would go on to win in six games and face the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals. Sony VAIO VGN-CR41ZR Battery

 A content Nowitzki commented: "We've been a good road team all season long, we believed in each other. We went through some ups and downs this season, but the playoffs is all about showing heart and playing together."[61] Of Nowitzki's performance, ESPN columnist Bill Simmons would remark, "Dirk is playing at a higher level than any forward since Bird."[6Sony VAIO VGN-CR41S Battery

2] The Mavericks took an early 2–0 lead, but then gave away a late 15-point lead in a Game 3 loss[63] and finally fell to a scoring onslaught by Heat Finals MVP Dwyane Wade: Wade scored at least 36 points in the next four games, Sony VAIO VGN-CR42Z Battery

which the Heat all won. Nowitzki only made 20 of his last 55 shots in the final 3 games as the Mavericks lost the Finals series 4–2 to the Heat. The German was criticised by ESPN as "clearly... not as his best this series" and remarked: Sony  VAIO VGN-NW11S/T Battery

 "That was a tough loss (in Game 3) and that really changed the whole momentum of the series... After that, they got confidence. They played a lot better afterwards."[64] Sony  VAIO VGN-NW11S/S Battery

2006–07 season

The 2006–07 season was the year Nowitzki was named the league's Most Valuable Player. He shot a career-best 50.2% from the field, and recorded averages of 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists[22] and led the Mavericks to a franchise-high 67 wins, which meant Dallas earned the first seed of the 2007 NBA Playoffs.[ Sony  VAIO VGN-NW11Z/T Battery

65] Nowitzki was touted as the overwhelming favorite for the Most Valuable Player award, and was expected to lead the Mavericks to an easy win against the eighth seed Golden State Warriors, despite the Warriors having won all four regular season meetings against Dallas. Sony  VAIO VGN-NW11Z/S Battery

 However, the Mavericks ended up losing to the Warriors in six games, marking the first time a #8 seed has beaten the #1 in a best of seven series in NBA history.[6Sony  VAIO VGN-NR11M/S Battery

6] In the clinching Game 6, Nowitzki shot just 2–13 from the field for only eight points.[66] Defended by Stephen Jackson, Nowitzki averaged nearly five points less than his regular season average in that series and shot only 38.3% from the field as compared to 50.2% during the regular season.[22Sony  VAIO VGN-NR11S/S Battery

] He described this loss as a low point in his career: "This series, I couldn't put my stamp on it the way I wanted to. That's why I'm very disappointed."[67] In spite of this historic playoffs loss, Nowitzki was named the NBA's regular season Most Valuable Player and beat his friend and back-to-back NBA MVP Nash with more than 100 votes. He also became the first European-born player in NBA history to receive the honor.[68] Sony  VAIO VGN-NR11Z/S Battery

2007–08 season

The 2007–08 campaign saw another first-round playoffs exit for Nowitzki and his Mavericks. Despite a mid-season blockbuster trade that sent veteran NBA All-Star Jason Kidd to Dallas, Sony  VAIO VGN-NR11Z/T Battery the Mavericks could only finish seventh in a highly competitive Western Conference. Nowitzki averaged 23.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a career-high 3.5 assists for the season.[69] In the playoffs, they faced rising star Chris Paul's New Orleans Hornets, and were eliminated in five games.[ Sony  VAIO FW Battery69] The few positive highlights that season for the German were his first career triple-double against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 6, 2008, with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists, and on March 8, 2008 (34 points against the New Jersey Nets), when he surpassed Rolando Blackman with his 16,644th point to become the Mavericks' all-time career points leader.[70] Sony  VAIO VGN-FW11 Battery

2008–09 season

The 2008–09 NBA season saw Nowitzki finish with averages of 25.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He was fourth in the league in scoring, and garnered his fourth All-NBA First Team selection. He also made the 2009 All-Star game, Sony  VAIO VGN-FW11M Battery

 his eighth appearance. Nowitzki led Dallas to a tight finish towards the playoffs, finishing 50–32 for the season (6th in the West), after a slow 2–7 start. In the playoffs, the German led Dallas to an upset win over long-time rival San Antonio (3rd seed), Sony  VAIO VGN-FW11S Battery

 winning the first round series 4–1. The Mavericks, however, fell short against the Denver Nuggets 4–1 in the second round, with Nowitzki averaging 34.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 4 assists in the series. Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21E Battery

2009–10 season

The Mavericks finished the 2009–10 NBA season as the second seed for the playoffs—it was their 10th consecutive season with at least 50 regular season wins. Notable additions to the squad were multiple All-Stars Shawn Marion and Caron Butler, with the latter coming in the latter half of the season. On January 13, 2010, Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21I Battery

 Nowitzki became the 34th player in NBA history—and the first European—to hit the 20,000 point milestone, while ending the regular season with averages of 25 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1 block. He was selected to the 2010 All-Star game, his ninth appearance. The Mavericks faced off against San Antonio once more in the first round of the playoffs, Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21L Battery

 but for the third time in four seasons, they failed to progress to the next round. Nowitzki was the only consistent player throughout the series for the Mavericks, averaging 26.7 points per outing, while the likes of Jason Terry, Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21Z Battery

second leading scorer for the Mavericks averaged only 12.7 points per game compared to his 16.6 regular season. Despite being a free agent, on July 5, 2010 Nowitzki agreed to remain with Dallas by re-signing to a four-year, $80 million deal.[71] Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21M Battery

2010–11 season

The most significant changes to the 2010–11 team roster was the arrival of Tyson Chandler via a trade. Nowitzki was injured in the middle of the season, during which the Mavericks would record their worst losing streak in over a decade. Sony  VAIO VGN-FW31M Battery

The Mavericks concluded the regular season with 57 wins, seeding third behind the Spurs and the Lakers for the 2011 NBA Playoffs. During the playoffs, despite their seeding, many predicted that Dallas would lose in the first round to Portland, and after blowing a 23-point third-quarter lead in game four to even the series at 2–2, Dell Inspiron Mini 9N  Battery

 the Mavericks appeared ready for another postseason collapse. However, Dallas won the final two games to advance, and then swept Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and the two-time defending champion Lakers in the semi-finals in Phil Jackson's final year as an NBA coach. In the Conference Finals, Dell Inspiron Mini 9  Battery

 they faced the Oklahoma City Thunder and their All-NBA duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. In Game 1 of that series, Nowitzki scored 48 points while taking only 15 shots en route to setting an NBA playoff record of 24 consecutive free throws made in a game as well as most free throws in a game without a miss. Dell lnspiron Mini 12 Battery

 In the pivotal Game 4, with the series 2–1 in favor of Dallas, Nowitzki scored 40 points to rally his team from a double-digit fourth quarter deficit and secure an overtime win for his team. Dell Inspiron Mini 10v Battery

Dallas overcame another fourth-quarter deficit in Game 5 to win the series and the Western Conference Championship. In the Finals, Dallas once again faced Dwyane Wade's Miami Heat, Dell Inspiron 1210 Battery

which had acquired All-Stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh before the season began. During the Game 1 loss in Miami, Nowitzki tore a tendon in his left middle finger; however, MRIs were negative, and Nowitzki vowed that the injury would not be a factor. Dell Inspiron Mini 1011 Battery

In Game 2, Nowitzki led a Dallas rally from 15 points down in the 4th quarter, capped by a driving left-handed layup over Bosh to tie the series at 1–1. After Nowitzki missed a potential game tying shot at the end of Game 3, Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Battery

Miami took a 2–1 series lead. Despite carrying a 101 degree fever in Game 4, Nowitzki scored the winning basket to level the series 2–2, evoking comparisons of Michael Jordan's flu-ridden performance against Utah in the 1997 NBA Finals. Dell Latitude E5500 Battery

 Dallas went on to win the next two games, with Nowitzki scoring 10 fourth-quarter points in the series-clinching game in Miami, bringing the first championship to the franchise.[7Dell Latitude E5410 Battery

2] In the series, Nowitzki scored 62 points total in the six fourth quarters, equaling the combined fourth quarter output of James and Wade. He was named Finals MVP, joining a distinguished list of 10 other players to have been an NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, NBA regular season MVP, and a 10-time All-Star. Dell Latitude E5400 Battery

International career

Nowitzki has been playing for the German national basketball team since the 1999 FIBA European championships. In his debut tournament, the 21-year old rookie emerged as the main German scorer, but Germany finished seventh and failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games.[7Dell Precision M6400 Battery

3] In the 2001 FIBA European Championships, Nowitzki was top scorer with 28.7 points per game, and narrowly lost the MVP vote to Serbian player Peja Stojaković. Germany reached the semi-finals and were close to beating host nation Turkey, Dell Precision M4400 Battery

 but down by three, Hedo Turkoglu hit a three-point buzzer beater, and the Turks eventually won in overtime.[74] Germany then lost 90–99 against Spain, and did not win a medal. However, with averages of 28.7 points and 9.1 rebounds, Nowitzki led the tournament in both statistics, and was voted to the All-Star team.[7Dell Latitude E6400 Battery

5] Back home, the German basketball team attracted up to 3.7 million television viewers, a German basketball record at the time.[74] Dell Latitude E6500 Battery

Nowitzki finally earned his first medal when he led Germany to a bronze medal in the 2002 World Championships. In the quarter-finals against the Pau Gasol-led Spain, Spain led 52–46 after three quarters, but then Nowitzki scored 10 points in the last quarter and led Germany to a 70–62 win.[76] In the semi-finals, Dell Latitude E6400 Battery

his team played against the Argentinian squad led by Manu Ginóbili, but despite leading 74–69 four minutes from the end and despite Argentina losing Ginobili to a foot injury, the South Americans won 86–80.[ Dell Latitude E4300 Battery

76] However, the Germans won 117–94 against New Zealand in the consolation finals and won bronze, and tournament top scorer Nowitzki (24.0 ppg) was elected MVP. Back in Germany, over 4 million television viewers followed the games, an all-time record in German basketball history.[76] Dell Inspiron XPS M1710 Battery

The 2003 FIBA European Championships proved to be a major disappointment for Nowitzki and his German squad. In a preparation game, he suffered a foot injury after a collision with French player Florent Pietrus; HP Pavilion DM4 Battery

as a result, Nowitzki played inconsistently and was also often target of hard fouls.[77] In the decisive second round match against Italy (only the winner was allowed to play the medal round), Germany lost 86–84, finished ninth and did not qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games. HP Pavilion DM4T Battery

•  Nowitzki scored 22.5 points per game (third overall), but in general seemed to lack focus and dominance due to his injury.[77] Sony  VAIO FW Battery

• In the 2005 FIBA European Championships, Nowitzki came back strong. He surprisingly led a depleted German squad into the Finals, beating title favorites Slovenia in the quarter-finals and Spain in the semi-finals on the way. Eurobasket pundits praised Nowitzki in both matches: against Slovenia (76–62), Sony  VAIO VGN-FW11 Battery
• the forward scored a game high 22 points and commented: "The Slovenians underestimated us. They said we were the team they wanted and that was wrong, you shouldn't do that in the quarter-finals."[7Sony  VAIO VGN-FW11M Battery
• 8] Against Spain (74–73), Nowitzki scored a game-high 27 points and scored the decisive basket: down by one and with only a few seconds to go, he drove on Spanish forward Jorge Garbajosa, and hit a baseline jump shot over Garbajosa's outstretched arms with 3.9 seconds to go. The German later commented: "It was indescribable. Sony  VAIO VGN-FW11S Battery
• Garbajosa kind of pushed me towards the baseline so I just went with it."[78] Despite losing the Finals 78–62 to the Greeks, Nowitzki was the tournament's leading scorer (26.7 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (10.8 rpg) and shot blocker (1.8 bpg), Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21I Battery

and was voted Most Valuable Player of the tournament.[79] In the 2006 FIBA World Championships, Nowitzki led the German team to an eighth place and commented: "It's tough luck. But overall, finishing eighth in the world is not bad."[80] Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21E Battery

• In the 2007 FIBA European Championships, in which the top three teams automatically qualified for the 2008 Olympics, Nowitzki led Germany to a fifth place. He was the leading scorer with 24.0 points per game.[8Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21L Battery
• 1] The fifth place meant that Germany fell short of direct qualification, but was allowed to participate in the 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Nowitzki led Germany into a decisive match against Puerto Rico for the last remaining slot. Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21M Battery
•  In that crucial match, he scored a game-high 32 points and was vital for the 96–82 win which sent the German basketball team to their first Olympics since the 1992 Summer Olympics.[82] Nowitzki was chosen to be the flag bearer for the German Olympic Team at the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Olympics. Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21Z Battery
•  Nowitzki led the German team to a tenth place finish, and averaged 17.0 points, and 7.6 rebounds for the tournament.[83] Sony  VAIO VGN-FW21M Battery
•  In 2009, Nowitzki skipped the 2009 FIBA European Championships. In July 2010 he said that he would skip the 2010 FIBA World Championship. However he already announced that he will play the EuroBasket 2011 to help the team to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Sony  VAIO VGN-FW31M Battery

Player profile

Nowitzki (far right) is an outstanding free throw shooter, connecting on over 87% of his attempts.

• Nowitzki is a versatile frontcourt player who mostly plays the power forward position, but has also played center, small forward and point forward throughout his career. Sony  VGN-FW31ZJ battery
• Nowitzki hits almost 88% of his free throws, connects on almost 50% of his field goal attempts and on almost 40% of his three-point shots, and won the 2006 NBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout competition.[ Sony  VGN-FW32J battery
• 22] In 2006–07 Nowitzki became only the fifth member of the NBA's 50–40–90 Club for players who shot 50% or better from the field, 40% or better on three-pointers, and 90% or better on free-throws in a single season while achieving the NBA league minimum number of makes in each category. Sony  VAIO VGN-NW11S/S Battery

• Throughout Nowitzki's career, he has responded to the increased pressure of the playoffs by increasing his productivity. In the regular season he averages 23 points, 8 rebounds. In the playoffs he averages 25.9 points and 10.4 rebounds, which only Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Pettit and Elgin Baylor have managed to do. ISony  VAIO VGN-NW11S/T Battery
• n the most pressure packed games, such as playoff elimination games he averages 28.4 points, 12.2 rebounds. He has had 13 elimination games where he scored 30 or more points, with only Jerry West having more at 14. Of the top 100 elimination game performances in the last 20 years, Nowitzki has had the best performances in 8 of them, more than any other player in the NBA in that same time .[84] Sony  VAIO VGN-NW11Z/T Battery

His shooting accuracy combined with his long seven-foot and unique shooting mechanics, such as having a release point above his head, makes contesting his jump shots incredibly difficult. Additionally, he can put the ball down and drive with it from the perimeter, like few have been able to do with his size.[8Sony  VAIO VGN-NW11Z/S Battery

• 5] NBA.com lauds his versatility by stating: "The 7–0 forward who at times mans the pivot can strike fear in an opponent when he corrals a rebound and leads the break or prepares to launch a three-point bomb."[2] Charles Barkley describes the best way to guard Nowitzki is to "get a cigarette and a blindfold".[86] When defenses guard Nowitzki with one of their biggest men, Sony  VAIO VGN-NR11M/S Battery
• who is then pulled out to the perimeter, the net effect is that while Nowitzki's own statistics are actually compromised by being out of position to offensively rebound or make an easy close-range basket, the rest of the team becomes more offensively potent with the defense having to be spread across the floor. Often, this creates player mismatches that Nowitzki's teammates can exploit. Sony  VAIO VGN-NR11S/S Battery

• Some critics[who?] have alleged Nowitzki's defense is a weakness, as he averages just over one block per game and never made an All-Defense Team.[2Sony  VAIO VGN-NR11Z/S Battery
• 2] However, playing more around the perimeter takes him out of position where a typical power forward would be detracts from his overall defensive stats. Despite the claims of lack of defense, he is ranked 8th in active players for defensive win shares, placing him higher than Kobe Bryant, who has made the All-Defensive team 11 times.[87] Sony  VAIO VGN-NR11Z/T Battery

• Nowitzki is the 34th player in NBA history, and the first European, to hit the 20,000-point milestone.[88] Apart from being the Dallas Mavericks' all-time leader in points, rebounds, field goals, field goal attempts, 3-pointers, Sony  VAIO VGN-CR21E Battery
• 3-point attempts, free throws, and free-throw attempts, Nowitzki has made the NBA All-Star games ten times, and the All-NBA Teams eleven times. He was voted NBA MVP of the 2006–07 NBA season, becoming the first European player to receive the honor. Other achievements include winning the 2006 NBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout, Sony  VAIO VGN-CR21S Battery
•  being voted European Basketballer of the Year five times in a row by La Gazzetta dello Sport, and being the leading scorer and MVP of the 2002 FIBA World Championship, and Eurobasket 2005 tournaments. Sony VAIO VGN-CR21SR Battery

• Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974) is a Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, Sony  VAIO VGN-CR21Z Battery
•  and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara University. In his four seasons with the Broncos, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and Nash was twice named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Sony  VAIO VGN-CR31E Battery

• After graduating from Santa Clara as the team's all-time leader in assists, Nash entered the 1996 NBA Draft and was selected as the 15th pick by the Phoenix Suns. He made a minimal impact, and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. Sony  VAIO VGN-CR31S Battery
• By his third season with the Mavericks, he was voted into his first NBA All-Star Game and had earned his first All-NBA selection. Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season. However, he became a free agent after the 2003–04 season and returned to the Phoenix Suns. Sony  VAIO VGN-CR31SR Battery

• In the 2004–05 season, Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was named MVP again in the 2005–06 season, and missed out on a third consecutive MVP title to Nowitzki the next season. Named by ESPN in 2006 as the ninth greatest point guard of all time, Sony  VAIO VGN-CR31Z Battery
•  Nash has led the league in assists and free-throw percentage at various points in his career. He is also ranked as one of the top players in NBA league history for three-point shooting, free-throw shooting, total assists and assists per game. Sony  VAIO VGN-CR31ZR Battery

• Nash has been honoured for his contributions to various philanthropic causes. In 2006, he was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He also received the Order of Canada in 2007, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Victoria in 2008. Sony  VAIO VGN-CR41S Battery

• My heroes were Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson. I think they were just so competitive and creative. Especially Isiah, he was somebody that wasn't very tall. He had played the game mostly on the floor and it made me feel that I could find a way to do the same. Sony  VAIO VGN-CR41SR Battery

Steve Nash

Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to a Welsh mother and an English father on 7 February 1974.[2][ Sony  VAIO VGN-CR41ZR Battery

3][4] His family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, when he was 18 months old, then to Vancouver, before finally settling in Victoria, British Columbia.[ Sony  VAIO VGN-CR42S Battery

5] Although Nash played soccer and ice hockey, often with his younger brother Martin, he did not start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13.[1] However, in grade eight, he told his mother that one day he would play in the NBA and become a star.[5] Sony  VAIO VGN-CR42Z Battery

High school

Nash originally attended Mount Douglas Secondary School, but after his grades began to drop, his parents decided to enroll him at St. Michaels University School, a private boarding school.[6] At St. Michaels, he starred in basketball, Sony  VGN-CR42Z Battery

 soccer, and rugby union. While playing basketball during his senior season, Nash averaged 21.3 points, 11.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game.[7] In the 1991–92 season, he led his team in his final year to the British Columbia AAA provincial championship title, and was named the province's Player of the Year.[8] Sony  VGP-BPS13A/B Battery

College career

Although Nash's high school coach, Ian Hyde-Lay, sent letters of inquiry and highlight reels on Nash's behalf to over 30 American universities, Nash was not recruited by any university,[5] until Santa Clara head coach Dick Davey requested video footage of the young guard. After watching Nash in person, Sony  VGP-BPS13 Battery

 Davey said he "was nervous as hell just hoping that no one else would see him. It didn't take a Nobel Prize winner to figure out this guy's pretty good. It was just a case of hoping that none of the big names came around."[6] However, Davey also told Nash that he was "the worst defensive player" he had ever seen.[6] Sony  VGP-BPS13A/S Battery

Nash was awarded a scholarship by Santa Clara for the 1992–93 season. At that time, it had been five years since the Broncos appeared in the NCAA tournament. That changed when Nash led the Broncos to a West Coast Conference (WCC) title and an upset win over the No. 2 seeded Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.[5] Sony  VGP-BPS13A/Q Battery

 In that game, Nash scored six straight free throws in the last 30 seconds of the contest.[6] Although Santa Clara was defeated by Temple in the next round, the 1992–93 campaign was considered a successful one. However, the Broncos failed to sustain the momentum the following season, and only managed a 5–7 record in the conference.[5Sony  VGP-BPS13B/Q Battery

] The team rebounded in the 1994–95 season, with Nash being named Conference Player of the Year and the Broncos topping the WCC.[5] Featuring the league leader for scoring and assists in Nash, the Broncos returned to the NCAA tournament, but they were defeated by Mississippi State.[5Sony Vaio VGN-Z11MN/B Battery

] After the season, Nash contemplated turning professional, and decided against it when he learned that he would probably not be considered as a first-round pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.[5]

In the 1995–96 season, Sony Vaio VGN-Z11WN/B Battery

Nash began attracting the attention of the national media and professional scouts. He had spent the summer before that honing his skills, playing with the Canadian national team and working out with the likes of established NBA players Jason Kidd and Gary Payton.[ Sony Vaio VGN-Z21MN/B Battery

5] Santa Clara again captured the WCC title, and for the second consecutive year, Nash was named Conference Player of the Year, the first Bronco to do so since Kurt Rambis.[7] Sony Vaio VGN-Z11XN/B Battery

 He scored 28 points in leading the #10 seed Broncos to a first round upset win over #7 seed Maryland, but then the Broncos were eliminated by Kansas. Nash's performances ensured that he was named Honorable Mention All-America as a senior by The Associated Press and the USBWA. He also finished his career as Santa Clara's all-time leader in career assists (510), free-throw percentage (.Sony Vaio VGN-Z21VN/X Battery

862), and made and attempted three-pointers (263–656).[7] He remains third on the school's all-time scoring list (1,689), and holds Santa Clara's single-season free-throw percentage record (.894).[7] In September 2006, Nash had his jersey (#11) retired, becoming the first Santa Clara student-athlete to receive that honour.[9] Sony Vaio VGN-Z21XN/B Battery

NCAA career statistics

Nash averaged 10.5 minutes a game in his rookie year.

Phoenix Suns (1996–98)

After graduating with a degree in sociology,[6] Nash was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft. Upon hearing the draft announcement, Suns fans booed in disapproval of the relatively unknown player.[6] Sony Vaio VGN-Z31XN/B Battery

 This was because despite his impressive college accomplishments, Nash had not played in one of the major college conferences. During his first two seasons in the NBA, Nash played a supporting role behind NBA star point guards Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell, and later, Sony Vaio VGN-Z31ZN/X Battery

 Jason Kidd.[5] Both Johnson and Cassell had NBA Finals experience, while Kidd was the second overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and already an All-Star when he arrived at Phoenix. Sony Vaio VGN-Z31WN/B Battery

In his rookie season, Nash only managed 10.5 minutes a game,[11] but in his second season, his playing time increased significantly and he was even ranked 13th in the league for three-point field-goal percentage.[ Sony Vaio VGN-Z41MD/B Battery

5] Nevertheless, the Canadian's tenure with the Suns did not last. While at Santa Clara, Nash had met and befriended Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson, who worked for the Golden State Warriors at that time. After moving to Dallas, Sony Vaio VGN-Z41WD/B Battery

Nelson was able to convince his father, Don Nelson—then the Mavericks coach and general manager—to acquire the under-utilised Nash.[ Sony VAIO VGN-AW11M/H Battery

5] Following the 1998 NBA Draft, Nash was traded from the Suns to the Mavericks in exchange for Martin Müürsepp, Bubba Wells, the draft rights to Pat Garrity and a first-round draft pick (who later turned out to be future Phoenix team-mate Shawn Marion).[5] Sony VAIO VGN-AW11S/B Battery

Dallas Mavericks (1998–2004)

It was in Dallas that Nash established himself as a formidable point guard, beginning a decade as one of the game's top players. Sony VAIO VGN-AW11XU/Q Battery

 During his first year as a Maverick (the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season) he started in all 40 games he played in, and averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.[11] The 19–31 Mavericks failed to make the playoffs but in the 1999–2000 season, the team's prospects improved considerably. Nash missed 25 mid-season games due to an ankle injury, but came back to record six double-doubles in the last month of play.[ Sony VAIO VGN-AW21S/B Battery

7] He finished the season with averages of 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game.[11] More importantly for the team, second-year teammate and friend Dirk Nowitzki was blossoming quickly into a top player, veteran Michael Finley was having an All-Star-calibre year, and the team's new owner, billionaire Mark Cuban, was bringing new energy and excitement to the franchise. Nash now had a supportive environment in which he could thrive. Sony VAIO VGN-AW21S/B Battery

In the 2000–01 season, Nash averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game in a breakout season.[11] With Nash directing the team's offense, Nowitzki and Finley playing at their best, and the acquisition of All-Star Juwan Howard complementing the high-scoring trio, the Mavericks earned a playoff berth for the first time in more than a decade. Sony VAIO VGN-AW21XY/Q Battery

Dallas lost in the Western Conference Semifinals four games to one to the San Antonio Spurs, but it marked the beginning of a memorable run for Nash and the Mavericks.[12] In the 2001–02 season, Nash posted career-highs of 17.9 points and 7.7 assists per game[1Sony VAIO VGN-AW21Z/B Battery

1] and earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game and on the All-NBA Third Team.[13][14] He was now an All-Star, increasingly appearing in television commercials and, with Finley and Nowitzki, a part of the Dallas Mavericks "Big Three."[15] Dallas earned another trip to the playoffs but lost again in the Semifinals to the Sacramento Kings four games to one.[16] Sony VAIO VGN-AW31S/B Battery

Nash closely replicated his previous season's performance in the 2002–03 season, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists per game,[11] again earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honours.[13][17] Nowitzki and Nash led the Mavericks from a 14-game winning streak to open the season all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs four games to two.[1Sony VAIO VGN-AW31XY/Q Battery

8] It was only the second Conference Finals appearance in the franchise's history. The 2003–04 season saw an offensively boosted Mavericks roster (with the acquisitions of Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison) but a dip in Nash's scoring contributions. Sony VAIO VGN-AW31ZJ/B Battery

 As a result he was not selected for the All-Star and All-NBA team rosters even though he achieved new career highs in assists per game (8.8) and free-throw accuracy (91.6%).[11] In the playoffs, the fifth-seeded Dallas failed to make progress yet again as the Sacramento Kings saw them off four games to one.[19] Sony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/P Battery

After the 2003–04 season, Nash became a free agent. He attempted to negotiate a long-term contract with Cuban, who was paying Walker, Finley, Nowitzki and Jamison nearly $50 million in combined salaries that season. Cuban wanted to build his franchise around the younger Nowitzki and did not want to risk signing the 30-year-old Nash to a long-term deal, and offered Nash a four-year deal worth about $9 million annually, with a fifth year partially guaranteed. Sony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/S Battery

 The Phoenix Suns on the other hand offered the point guard a six-year, $63 million contract. Nash was reluctant to leave Dallas and returned to Cuban to see if he would match the deal; Cuban did not, and Nash signed for the Suns for the 2004–05 season. Sony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/W Battery

The Canadian would go on to win two League MVP awards with Phoenix, and on a 14 June 2006 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Cuban wondered out loud, "... you know Steve's a great guy and I love him to death, but why couldn't he play like an MVP for us?"[20] Sony VAIO VGN-NW20EF/S Battery

Return to Phoenix Suns (2004–present)

Nash joined a Suns team which had emerging young players in Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson and Amar'e Stoudemire. In the season before Nash arrived, the Suns had recorded a 29–53 win–loss record,[5] and they were projected to have another poor season. Head coach Mike D'Antoni favoured an up-tempo style of basketball; Sony VAIO VGN-SR11M Battery

this required smaller and more athletic players with the capability to outrun and outshoot their opponents. Nash's familiarity with this style combined with the athleticism of his teammates produced an NBA-best 62–20 record and a points-per-game average of 110.4, the highest in a decade.[2Sony VAIO VGN-SR11MR Battery

1] The catalyst of this turnaround, Nash averaged 11.5 assists per game while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season.[11][22] He edged Shaquille O'Neal to win the 2004–05 NBA MVP award,[2Sony VAIO VGN-SR21M/S Battery

3] becoming the first Canadian to earn the honour, as well as the third point guard ever to be named MVP, along with Magic Johnson and Bob Cousy.[7] In the playoffs, Phoenix swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games before meeting the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.[24] Nash led the Suns to a 4–2 series win, Sony VAIO VGN-SR31M/S Battery

 [24] and the Suns reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1993, but lost to the eventual NBA Champions and arch-rival, the San Antonio Spurs, in five games.[24]

Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/P Battery

After Nash's return to Phoenix in 2004, the Suns won 33 more games than they did the previous season.

The next season, Stoudemire suffered a serious knee injury, and Johnson and Quentin Richardson were traded away.[2Sony VAIO VGN-SR41M/S Battery

5] The Suns were not expected to repeat their successful 2005 season, but with Nash directing the same high-tempo offence, the team compiled a respectable 54–28 record and won the division title.[22][25] The Suns were again the highest-scoring team in the league with seven players averaging double figures in points per gameSony VAIO VGN-NS10E/S Battery

5] and Nash was voted for the first time to start for the 2006 Western All-Star team.[26] Having recorded career highs in points (18.8), rebounds (4.2), field goal percentage (.512) and free-throw percentage (a league-leading .921), and leading the league with 10.5 assists per game,[7] Nash was named the league MVP for the second year in a row.[2Sony VAIO VGN-NS10L/S Battery

7] In the first round of the playoffs, Phoenix overcame a 3–1 deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers and won the series 4–3.[25] The Los Angeles Clippers were their Conference Semifinals opponents, and the Suns again needed seven games to clinch the series.[25] For the second year in a row however, the Suns bowed out in the Conference Finals, this time to Nash's former team, Dallas.[25] Sony VAIO VGN-NS11E/S Battery

In the 2006–07 season, Nash had another stellar campaign, averaging 18.6 points and a career-high 11.6 assists per game while becoming the first person since Magic Johnson in 1990–91 to average 18 points and 11 assists per game during the regular season.[ Sony VAIO VGN-NS11J/S Battery

28] Nash received the most votes for first-team All-NBA and was joined by teammate Stoudemire; the two were the first teammates to make the first team since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in 2003–04.[28] Nash received 129 first-place votes and 645 total points from the panel of 129 media members.[2Sony VAIO VGN-NS20E/P Battery

8] He narrowly missed being MVP a third consecutive time, coming in second with 44 first place votes to 83 for Dirk Nowitzki.[29] In the playoffs, the Suns eliminated the Lakers in five games, but were unable to overcome the Spurs in the Conference Semifinals, losing the series 4–2.[30] Sony VAIO VGN-NS20J/S Battery

Nash with then-teammate Shaquille O'Neal

Nash played in 81 regular-season games during the 2007–08 season; in this campaign, the Western Conference was especially competitive and he led the Suns to 55 wins and the sixth seed for the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Sony VAIO VGN-NS30E/S Battery

Although there was a dip in his regular-season output, Nash's shooting remained sharp; the accuracy of his shooting was on par with his 2005–06 MVP campaign (shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from the three-point arc, and 90% from the free throw line).[11] On 31 January 2008, he collected his All-Star stripes for the sixth time in his career.[31] However, Nash continued to experience agony in the playoffs. Sony VAIO VGN-NS30Z/S Battery

Despite a mid-season trade that sent Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat and brought four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal to the team, the Suns were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs for the third time in four years.[3Sony VAIO VGN-CS11S/W Battery

2] In the deciding Game 5, Nash was perceived to have suffered from "elimination-game jitters", and turned over the ball twice in the final two minutes of what was a tight contest.[32] Nevertheless, Nash was later named to the All-NBA Second Team for the 2007–08 season.[33Sony VAIO VGN-CS11Z/R Battery

]

Before the 2008–09 season began, coach D'Antoni was replaced by Terry Porter, who preferred a more defensive-oriented style of basketball. The Suns had difficulties adapting to this new system, and even a December trade involving sending stalwarts Raja Bell and Boris Diaw to the Charlotte Bobcats for athletic swingman Jason Richardson[3Sony VAIO VGN-CS21S/T Battery

4] saw the team continue to struggle. Porter was then replaced by Alvin Gentry in February after a 28–23 record, but the Suns were unable to secure the final seed for the playoffs,[35] resulting in Nash missing the playoffs for the first time since he returned to Phoenix for his second stint.

Nash and the Suns opened the 2009–10 season with a series of strong performances, going 8–1 in their first nine games (a franchise-best since 1980–81), Sony VAIO VGN-CS21S/V Battery

 with Nash producing two 20-assists games.[36] On 21 January 2010, Nash was named as the starting point guard for the West for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.[37] With him operating at the point, the Suns were the highest-scoring team in the league for the fifth season in a row, and were seeded third in the conference for the playoffs with 54 wins. Behind solid performances by Richardson and veteran Grant Hill, Sony VAIO VGN-CS21S/W Battery

the Suns defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 4–2 in the first round of the playoffs, and swept the Spurs 4–0 in the second round. The Suns met the defending champions, Los Angeles Lakers, in the Conference Finals. After losing the first two games, Sony VAIO VGN-CS21Z/Q Battery

 Phoenix won the next two to tie the series. A Ron Artest buzzer-beater in Game 5 pushed the Lakers one game closer to the Finals, and Kobe Bryant's 37 points in Game 6 completed the defeat of the Suns. Sony Vaio VGN-TT11M Battery 

The Suns underwent two major roster changes in the 2010–11 season. During the pre-season, Stoudemire left for New York, while longtime teammate Leandro Barbosa was traded for Hedo Türkoğlu. Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick were also recruited to join the Suns. Not long after the season began, Türkoğlu, Sony Vaio VGN-TT21M/N Battery 

 Richardson, and Earl Clark were traded to Orlando for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, and Mickaël Piétrus, while rising star Goran Dragic was traded to the Houston Rockets for Aaron Brooks.[38] The Suns had difficulty being even a .500 team, and for the second time since Nash returned to Phoenix, the Suns failed to make the playoffs. Sony Vaio VGN-TT23/W Battery 

International career

Medal record

Men’s Basketball

Competitor for  Canada

FIBA Americas Championship

Bronze     2001 Neuquén National team

In 1993, while in college, Nash played for the national team and competed in the Canada Games and World University Games. He won a bronze medal at the Canada Games and won a silver medal at the World University Games, losing to Team USA, which included players such as Michael Finley and Damon Stoudamire.[5] Dell XPS M1330 Battery

Nash captained Canada at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.[39] He led Canada to win their round robin group with a victory over Spain and a stunning 83–75 win over favoured Yugoslavia when he scored 26 points with eight rebounds and eight assists. Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals with a loss to France and Nash left the court in tears. Nash expressed disappointment with the result, saying "It hurts a lot. Dell XPS M1530 Battery

I feel like I let everybody down. We could have been in the championship game. We were good enough."[40] Nevertheless, he did see a possible silver lining, saying "Hopefully kids [in Canada] will be inspired to play—that's what I really hope."[4Dell XPS M1730 Battery

0] A victory in its final game of the tournament, a placement game against Russia, enabled Canada to salvage 7th place. Nash's Olympic performance propelled him to stardom in Canada and he finished fifth in voting for the 2000 Lionel Conacher Award, which is handed out to the Canadian male athlete of the year.[41] Dell Latitude E6500 Battery

Nash again led Team Canada during qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics at the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was named tournament MVP,[42] but Canada finished fourth, missing out on the three Olympic spots available. That was the last time Nash played for Canada. In December 2007, he said, "In my mind right now, I'm not going to play for Canada any more."[43] Dell Latitude E5400 Battery

Player profile

Nash is known for his dribbling, passing, and shooting abilities.

Nash is most noted for his playmaking, ball-handling skills and shooting. He led the league in assists for five years, averaging 11.5 assists per game in 2004–05, 10.5 in 2005–06, 11.6 in 2006–07, 11.0 in 2009–10 and 11.4 in 2010–11[1Dell Latitude E6500 Battery

1] and won the 2005 and 2010 NBA All-Star Skills Contests.[7] As of the end of 2010–11 season, he has a 90.4% free-throw shooting average (tied for best in NBA history),[44] a 42.9% career three-point shooting average (eight-best in league history),[45] and his total assists, assists per game, and three-point field goals made rank him as one of the top 10 players in league history.[46] Dell Latitude E6500 Battery

 [47][48] In addition, he is ranked third (starting from 1986–87) in regular season point-assist double doubles.[49] In the 2005–06 season, Nash became the fourth player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better from the field, 40% from three-point range (43.9), and 90% from the line, joining Larry Bird, Reggie Miller and Mark Price in the 50-40-90 Club.[25Dell Studio XPS 13 Battery

][50] This was a feat he would repeat in the 2006-07, 2007–08, 2008–09 and 2009–10 campaigns.[ HP HSTNN-C50C Battery

11] Only 11 times has a player shot 50-40-90 in an NBA season while also achieving the NBA league minimum number of makes. Nash (five times) and Larry Bird (three times) are the only players to have accomplished this feat more than once.[5HP HSTNN-Q35C Battery

1] A two-time NBA MVP, Nash is only the second point guard (along with Magic Johnson) to win the MVP award multiple times and the third guard in NBA history to earn back-to-back MVPs (joining Johnson and Michael Jordan).[7] Only nine other NBA players have won back-to-back MVP awards: Johnson, Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, and LeBron James.[ HP HSTNN-CB72 Battery

7] On 11 May 2006, ESPN.com rated Nash as the 9th-best point guard of all time,[52] and in a survey by nba.com in 2007, Nash received 85% of the votes by the league's general managers as best point guard in the league.[53] In a similar survey in 2009, Nash was rated as the best passer of the ball and the player possessing the best basketball IQ.[5HP HSTNN-UB72 Battery

4] Commenting on Nash losing out to former teammate Dirk Nowitzki for the 2007 NBA MVP, Boston Celtics centre and Hall of Famer Russell stated: "I think, on the world stage, he's one of our great athletes in all sports.. HP Pavilion DV6-1120SA Battery

. I'm a big fan. The two MVPs he got, he deserved. Part of the reason that he's so good and so effective is that the guys like playing with him. He creates an atmosphere where they win games."[55] HP HSTNN-DB72 Battery

In terms of specific skills, Nash is particularly effective playing the pick and roll, notably with Nowitzki when he was at Dallas and later with the Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.[56] When Nash returned to Phoenix in 2004, HP Pavilion DV6-1210SA Battery

he helped the Suns improve from a 29–53 record in 2003–04 to 62–20 in 2004–05, reaching the Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years, earning him his first MVP award. The next season, he led the Suns into the Conference Finals, HP Pavilion DV6-2020EC Battery

 despite the injuries of all three big men (Stoudemire, Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant); further, Nash was responsible for seven of his teammates attaining career-highs in season scoring.[25] With Nash operating at the point, between the 2005–06 and 2009–10 seasons, the Suns led the league in field goal percentage. HP Pavilion G60 Battery

Steve Nash at the 2008 eTalk Festival Party, during the Toronto International Film Festival

Personal lifeHP Pavilion G60-401SA Battery

In 2001, Nash met Alejandra Amarilla in Manhattan. They married in June 2005 and have twin daughters, Lola and Bella, born on October 14, 2004,[7] and a son, Matteo Joel, born November 12, 2010.[63HP Pavilion G60-406SA Battery

] On the day of his son's birth, Nash made a statement to Life & Style in which he announced the birth but called it a "bittersweet moment", revealing that he and his wife had "lived separately for the past several months" and are "in the process of dissolving" their marriage.[64][65] HP Pavilion G60-410SA Battery

Nash's younger brother, Martin Nash, played soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and made 30 appearances for the Canadian national soccer team.[4] Their younger sister, Joann, was the captain of the University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team for three years and was named a Canada West Universities Athletic Association All-Star.[6] HP Pavilion G60-415SA Battery

 [66] She is married to Manny Malhotra of the NHL Vancouver Canucks. HP Pavilion G60-420SA Battery

Nash has a medical condition called spondylolisthesis, which causes muscle tightness and back pain. Due to the condition, when he is not in the game he lies on his back rather than sitting on the bench to keep his muscles from stiffening.[67] HP Pavilion DV6-1211AX Battery

Charity

In 2001, Nash formed the Steve Nash Foundation. Through grants to public service and nonprofit entities, the foundation aims to foster health in kids by funding projects that provide services to children affected by poverty, illness, abuse, or neglect, HP Pavilion DV6-1223EO Battery

 and create opportunity for education, play, and empowerment. It focuses its resources on communities in Phoenix, Arizona, and British Columbia, Canada. It was given charitable status in 2004.[4] This foundation was awarded the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy in 2008.[ HP Pavilion DV6-1220EO Battery

68] Nash also founded the Jim Jennings Memorial Endowment Fund, established in honour of a volunteer staff member at Santa Clara University who served the basketball team for more than 20 years.[9] HP Pavilion DV5-1015ED Battery

Elsewhere, Nash is the sponsor of the Steve Nash Youth Basketball League in British Columbia that has grown over 10,000 participants.[7] He has also become involved with GuluWalk, a Canadian-operated charitable organization that raises awareness and funds for the war-affected children of northern Uganda. In September 2007, HP Pavilion DV6-1230SB Battery

 Nash and Yao Ming headlined a group of NBA players who travelled to China and played an exhibition game with the Chinese national basketball team. The charity event reportedly raised 2.5 million dollars, earmarked for Chinese children in need.[69] HP Pavilion DV6-1215SA Battery

In May 2006, Nash was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In the accompanying write-up by Charles Barkley, Nash was lauded for his unselfishness on the basketball court, and being "just a nice guy" who had paid for a new pediatric cardiology ward in a Paraguayan hospital.[ HP Pavilion DV5-1015EA Battery

70] On 28 December 2007, it was announced that Nash would receive Canada's highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada,[71] and on 3 June 2008, it was announced that Nash would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[72] HP Pavilion DV7-1020 Battery

 On 18 September 2009, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Victoria, in recognition of his athletic achievements and his philanthropic work on behalf of young people through the Steve Nash Foundation.[73]

HP Pavilion DV7-1130 Battery

Endorsements

Nash is known to be selective about endorsing products, preferring to work with companies he deems socially responsible. After winning his first MVP award, he was approached to be the spokesperson for numerous products, including MDG Computers, Raymond Weil watches, Vitamin Water, and Clearly Canadian bottled water.[7HP Pavilion DV7-1134 Battery

4] He also has a longstanding relationship with Nike.[75] Like fellow NBA stars Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, and Greg Oden, Nash is represented by agent Bill Duffy.[76] HP Pavilion DV7-1137 Battery

Soccer

Nash contemplated a soccer career before deciding to focus on basketball full-time.

Nash grew up playing soccer—he stated in a 2005 interview that he could have played professionally if he had focused on it[77]—and continues to hold an interest in the sport. When Dirk Nowitzki arrived in the NBA from Germany, HP Pavilion DV7-1150 Battery

 he and Nash became close friends, in part because they enjoyed watching soccer together. Nash is friends with several professional soccer players, including Alessandro Del Piero, Thierry Henry, Owen Hargreaves, Massimo Ambrosini and Steve McManaman.[7HP Pavilion DV7-1170 Battery

8] During his off-season, when he lives in New York City, he has trained with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer,[79] and once tried to arrange a pick-up game in the city's Central Park with the Red Bulls and one of his local teams.[80] HP Pavilion DV7-1290EO Battery

Nash—whose father was born in the Tottenham district of London—is a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter, and has expressed interest in owning a minority stake in the club. "I'd like to be an owner. It's something I could do for the rest of my life after my little window of popularity dies," he said in an interview with The New York Times.[8Sony  VGP-BPS9 Battery

1] Nash added, "I've been a passionate supporter all my life. My parents are from north London and so it's not like I'm some Yank who wants to make a profit out of football. I don't care about making money. I just want to see Spurs succeed and, Sony  VGP-BPS9/B Battery

if I can help, that's great." However, he said any participation in Spurs would come after his basketball career is over, and he has had only "casual contact" with chairman Daniel Levy and former director of football Damien Comolli.[8Sony  VGP-BPS9/S Battery

2] Nash is also a fan of Brazilian team Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, which his former Suns teammate Leandro Barbosa supports. When Barbosa visited Corinthians in 2007, the club gave him a shirt with Nash's name and jersey number.[83] Sony  VGP-BPS9A/B Battery

Nash had also previously made statements about his intention to bring Major League Soccer to Vancouver as early as 2011, which he has succeeded in doing.[84] He joined the USL-1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC team's ownership group in July 2008 and in March 2009, Vancouver was officially named as a future MLS expansion city, set to join the league in 2011.[85][86] Sony  VGP-BPS9A Battery

Nash, along with former Yahoo! president and fellow Victoria-native Jeff Mallett, are investors in Women's Professional Soccer, a soccer league that was launched in March 2009. Nash cited his twin daughters and wanting to have role models for them to look up to as a reason for supporting the league.[8Sony VAIO VGN-CS11S/W Akku

7] Nash also co-hosted Showdown in Chinatown in 2008, an 8-on-8 charity soccer game held at Sara D. Roosevelt Park. He scored two goals in his team's 8–5 victory. Participants included Thierry Henry, Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, and Suns teammates Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa.[88]

Other interestsSony VAIO VGN-CS11Z/R Akku

Nash, Wayne Gretzky, Nancy Greene and Catriona LeMay Doan participate in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Sony VAIO VGN-CS11Z/T Akku

Nash and a Montreal-based partner, Leonard Schlemm, opened the first Steve Nash Sports Club in the spring of 2007 in downtown Vancouver, a high-end, $5-million, 38,500-square-foot (3,580 m2) facility that will mirror Nash's own fitness philosophy.[89] Sony VAIO VGN-CS21S/P Akku

In 2007, Nash wrote and produced an 81-second commercial for Nike titled "Training Day", directed by Julian Schnabel's daughter Lola, which gained popularity as a viral video on YouTube.[90] Nash also started a film production company together with his cousin, filmmaker Ezra Holland, and intends to produce independent films.[9Sony VAIO VGN-CS21S/R Akku

0] The first creative effort to come from Meathawk was a 91-second commercial, titled "The Sixty Million Dollar Man", for Nike's eco-friendly Trash Talk shoe, the first high-performance shoe to be made—at the behest of the environmentally conscious Nash—from recycled materials. Nash has worn the shoe since February 2008 but Nike produced only 5,000 pairs for sale. The ad which broke virally on Earth Day 2008, Sony VAIO VGN-CS21Z/Q Akku

was written by Nash and the directors of the spot, Danny Vaia and Ezra Holland. It is a spoof remake of the title sequence of the American television series The Six Million Dollar Man and plays on Nash’s numerous on-court collisions. Amar'e Stoudemire and Raja Bell have cameo appearances.[91][92Sony VAIO VGN-CS31S/R Akku

][93] Nash and Holland also co-directed the documentary Into the Wind, about iconic Canadian athlete and activist Terry Fox, as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series.

For the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, Nash became the first NBA player in Olympic history to carry the torch and light the Olympic cauldron.[94Sony VAIO VGN-AW11M/H Akku

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