Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Players
56
Steve Nash… continued
the Suns (Dec. 16, 2001; Dec. 26, 2004; Feb. 13, 2005; Nov. 28, 2005; Jan. 8, 2006; Dec. 10, 2006; Jan. 21, 2007;
Jan. 28, 2007)… For his success on the court and his many humanitarian efforts, was named to the Order of
Canada in Dec. 2007, his home nation’s highest civilian honor… Recipient of the 2007 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship
Award presented annually by the Professional Writer’s Association… Received the Naismith Foundation
Sportsmanship Award, presented by the family of hoops inventor Dr. James Naismith (2006)… Two-time winner
of the Lionel Conacher Award as the Canadian Press’ male athlete of the year (2005, 2002)… Unanimous winner
of the Lou Marsh Award, the prize given to Canada’s top athlete (2005)… Named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most
influential people (2006)… Nash and his foundation received the 2008 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in
Sports Philanthropy... Honored with his own Wheaties box, the first Suns player and third Canadian (joining Wayne
Gretzky and Mario Lemieux)... Accepted an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria in
September 2009.
CAREER NOTES
Over the last six seasons the Suns are 323-143 (.693) when Nash plays and 9-17 (.346) when he does not... Ranks
fifth all-time, second among active players (Jason Kapono), in three-point field goal percentage (.432, minimum
250 made)… Has shot 40 percent or better from three-point range in 13 of 14 seasons… 13th in NBA history
with 1,484 career three-pointers made… Second all-time in career free-throw percentage (Mark Price), tops among
active players (.9033, minimum 1200 made)… One of five players in NBA history to shoot 90 percent or better
in six different seasons… Has shot 86 percent or better from the free-throw stripe in 12 of 14 seasons… Only
player in NBA history to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent
from the free-throw line in four different seasons after doing so in 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 (only
Nash and Bird have done so at least twice)… Eighth in NBA history in career assists (8,397) and second in franchise
history behind Kevin Johnson (5,478)… One of only five players in NBA history to total 800 or more assists in
four consecutive seasons after doing so from 2004-05 to 2007-08 (John Stockton-10, Magic Johnson-9,
IsiahThomas-4, Oscar Robertson-4)… Only player in Suns history to average 11 or more assists in four different
seasons (2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2009-10)… Franchise-record five seasons averaging double-digit assists,
surpassing Kevin Johnson’s previous mark (4) and Nash owns five of the 11 such seasons in Suns’ history… One
of only three players in league history with 1,300 threes and 7,000 assists (Tim Hardaway, Jason Kidd)… Won his
second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2005-06, becoming only the ninth player in league history
to capture the award in back-to-back seasons (Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone,
Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan)… Also joined Hall of Famer Johnson as the only point
guards in league history to capture multiple MVP trophies… Joined Bob Cousy (1956-57), Oscar Robertson (1963-
64), Magic Johnson (1986-87, 1988-89 and 1989-90), Michael Jordan (1990-91, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1997-98) and
Allen Iverson (2000-01) as the only guards in league history to be named league MVP… Became only the second
player in franchise history (Charles Barkley, 1992-93) to receive the NBA’s top individual honor and joined Hakeem
Olajuwon (1993-94, Nigeria) as the only international players to win the award (Nowitzki became the third in
2006-07)… Franchise-record seven career 20-assist games, all with the Suns (Johnson)… Two career 20-20 games
overall (Jan. 2, 2006 OT; Nov. 9, 2009)… Three career triple-doubles: Nov. 17, 2003, Dallas vs. Portland (14 points,
10 rebounds, 12 assists); March 30, 2005, Phoenix vs. Philadelphia (12 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists); April 19,
2006, Phoenix at Portland (16 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists)… Made a single-season career-high 54 consecutive
free-throws from Dec. 4, 2008-Jan. 23, 2009, a streak which spanned 20 games and was three makes shy of tying
a franchise single-season record… Originally selected by the Suns in the first round (15th pick overall) of the
1996 NBA Draft and played two seasons in Phoenix, averaging 6.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 16.7
minutes in 141 games… With a glut of playmakers (Jason Kidd, Kevin Johnson), the Suns traded Nash to Dallas
on July 25, 1998 for Pat Garrity, Bubba Wells, Martin Muursepp and a future first-round pick (Shawn Marion)…
Signed to return to the Suns as a restricted free agent on July 14, 2004 and then signed a contract extension on
July 27, 2009… Former member of the Canadian National Team and was Canada’s team captain at the 2000 Olympics
in Sydney, Australia…Participated in the AT&T Shootout twice and in the Schick Rookie Game during the 1997
NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland… As a member of the Suns, finished third with Michele Timms of the WNBA’s
Phoenix Mercury, in the inaugural Nestle Crunch All-Star 2ball during All-Star Saturday in 1997.
College
At Santa Clara, he was twice named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year (1994-95, 1995-96), the first
Bronco to do so since former Sun Kurt Rambis… Finished career as the Broncos’ all-time leader in career assists
(510), free throw percentage (.862), and three-pointers made and attempted (263-656)… Ranked third on the
school’s all-time scoring list (1,689)… Holds Santa Clara’s single-season free throw percentage record (.894)…
Named Honorable Mention All-American as a senior by The Associated Press and the USBWA and was a two-time
Wooden Award candidate… Averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds as a senior… Became only the
fourth player in WCC history to lead the conference in scoring and assists in the same season, a feat first
accomplished by John Stockton… Notched 40 points (knocking down 8-17 3FG) at Gonzaga in 1995… Shot 21-21
from the free throw line against St. Mary’s in 1995… Hit six-straight free throws in the final 31 seconds to top
Arizona in the 1993 NCAA Tournament as a freshman.