Changing of the guard: after several steady NBA seasons, Steve Nash is suddenly dominating the league

WHEN HE GRADUATED from high school, Steve Nash was offered only one NCAA Division I basketball scholarship, from Santa Clara. Good thing the 31-year-old Canadian took it: He's currently having the season of his life as he resurrects the Phoenix Suns. Nash has been so good, in fact, he just might be the league's MVP.

So what does the 6'3" point guard make of all this sudden attention?

"As much as I appreciate it," Nash told MF recently, "I can't really believe I have the same effect on the game as a Tim Duncan or a Kevin Garnett."

We beg to differ. As the box to the right shows, it's difficult to underestimate Nash's impact on this year's Suns. The team began this season a lot better than they did the previous one, they've perfected their up-tempo style--and are now more likely to pass to an open teammate. As a Santa Clara grad might say, with Steve at the helm, the whole vibe is better out west.

But leave it to this unique playmaker--who's been known to crack a Che Guevara bio on the road or drop major dollars on less fortunate Olympic teammates (in 2000 he gave $3K to each Canadian player)--to put it all in perspective.

"I don't know really what it was like before I came, but I think this season has been more a process than a moment."

Yeah, a process we've come to know as "The Nash Effect."

The Nash Effect

UNBRIDLED: The Suns blistered the
competition to begin the season, eyeing
a playoff spot right out of the gate.

'03-'04            '04-'05

12-23 record       31-4 record

through 35 games   through 35 games

UNSELFISH: Nash's league-leading
11.5 assists per game * jump-started
the team's improved passing.

'03-'04        '04-'05
19.3 assists   23.3 assists
per game       per game *

UNSTOPPABLE: Nash loves to lead
the break--Phoenix's scoring is up an
astounding 16 points per game. *

'03-'04             '04-'05
94.2 scoring        110.2 scoring
avg. for the team   avg. for the team*

* stats as of February 15, 2005

COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning