Steve Nash: Worst MVP Choice in NBA History

Steven Resnick by Senior Writer Written on June 24, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10:  Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns laughs with Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at the Staples Center on December, 10 2008 in Los Angeles, California.   NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

There's a lot of words that can be described for Steve Nash, but MVP he is not. In fact Nash will go down as the worst MVP choice in NBA history.

Most of the words to describe Nash relate to his offensive ability, but when you go to describe his defense, there are no words to describe how terrible he is at the defensive end.

In fact during those MVP seasons that Nash had, the majority of the time Shawn Marion was guarding the opposing team's point guard. The reason being is Nash couldn't guard the point guard.

Nash won his two MVP awards back to back one in the 2004-2005 season and the other in the 2005-2006 season. Yet, the only reason he won it was because the media fell in love with the Mike D'Antoni style: Wide-open offense that called for a lot of scoring, but absolutely no defense.

His stats for the two awards looked like this:

  • 2004-2005: 15.5 points per game, 11.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 steala, 3.3 turnovers, 50.2 percent shooting, 43.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 88.7 percent from the free throw line.
  • 2005-2006: 18.8 points per game, 10.5 assists per game, 4.2 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 51.2 percent shooting, 43.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 92.1 percent from the free throw line.

Those are nice numbers, but let's compare them to some of the other point guards two best seasons in the NBA that did not win a MVP award.

Kevin Johnson:

  • 1988-1989: 20.4 points per game, 12.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 4.0 turnovers, 50.5 percent shooting, .091 percent from beyond the arc, and 88.2 percent from the free throw line.
  • 1990-1991: 22.5 points per game, 11.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 3.6 turnovers, 49.9 percent shooting, 19.5 percent from three, and 83.8 percent from the free throw line.

Tim Hardaway:

  • 1992-1993: 21.5 points per game, 10.6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 3.3 turnovers, 44.7 percent shooting, 33 percent from beyond the arc, and  74.4 percent from the line.
  • 1991-1992: 23.4 points per game, 10 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 3.3 turnovers, 46.1 percent from the field, 33.8 percent form three, and 76.6 percent from the free throw line.

John Stockton:

  • 1989-1990: 17.2 points per game, 14.5 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 3.5 turnovers, 51.4 percent shooting, 41.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.9 percent from the free throw line.
  • 1990-1991: 17.2 points per game, 14.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 3.6 turnovers, 50.7 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 83.6 percent from the free throw line.

Chris Paul:

  • 2007-2008: 21.1 points per game, 11.6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.5 turnovers, 48.8 percent shooting, 36.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 85.1 percent from the free throw line.
  • 2008-2009: 22.8 points per game, 11 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 3.0 turnovers,  50.3 percent shooting, 36.4 percent from three, and 86.8 percent from the free throw line.

Deron Williams:

  • 2008-2009: 19.4 points per game, 10.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 3.4 turnovers, 47.1 percent from the field, 31 percent from beyond the arc, and 84.9 percent from the free throw line.
  • 2007-2008: 18.8 points per game, 10.5 assists per game, 1.1 steals, 3.4 turnovers, 50.7 percent shooting, 39.5 percent from three, and 80.3 percent from the free throw line.

Now let's take a look at players with multiple MVP Awards. Here's the list Nash, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six) Bill Russell (five), Michael Jordan (five), Wilt Chamberlain (four), Magic Johnson (three), Moses Malone (three), Tim Duncan (two), Karl Malone (two), Bob Pettit (two), and of course Nash with two.

The only name on the list that doesn't belong is Nash. How embarrassing it must be for these great players to have to look down on the list and see that Nash joined in. A player with no defensive skills.

Here's another question: If Nash was the MVP of the league how come he was the third-best player on the Suns?

At least Amare Stoudemire tries to play defense, and Marion of course is a great defender, and also was great scorer as well.

Even with Stoudemire out for one of those years, Raja Bell and Boris Diaw stepped up their offense, but both of those players also were solid defenders. Nash may have helped get them the ball, but they made more effort on defense than Nash has ever shown.

Even then for the MVP for the 2004-2005 the argument could have been made for Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, and even Nash's teammate Stoudemire would have been a better choice.

Single Page
Vote Now! - Author Poll

Is Nash the worst choice for an MVP in NBA History?

  • Yes
  • No
vote to see results
Results - Author Poll

Is Nash the worst choice for an MVP in NBA History?

  • Yes

    25.5%
  • No

    74.5%
  • Total votes: 153
(0)
...
Share This  
Crop_45x45
or to post this comment

82 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment

Loading more comments...
posted just now
  • Loading...
  • Nobody has liked this comment yet
Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

1,066
reads

82
comments

written on June 24, 2009 Opinion

The best Suns newsletter on the web

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address


CBS Sports Official Partner
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.