Steve Nash Says Facing Warriors' Stephen Curry Helped Convince Him to Retire from NBA

Basketball Hall of Fame guard Steve Nash said on the "Mind the Game" podcast that facing Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in a preseason game before his 18th and final season with the league convinced him that it was time to retire.

The game Nash referenced was on Oct. 12, 2014. Curry and the Warriors scored 39 first-quarter points en route to a 116-75 win.

Here's how the first six possessions went for Curry: assist to Harrison Barnes for two, three-pointer, another three-pointer (with a block of Nash in between those shots), a four-point play after a Nash foul, another dish to Barnes for two and then an 18-footer. The Warriors led 15-2 after two minutes and 30 seconds and 39-13 after the first quarter.

Needless to say, it's understandable that Nash may have felt it was time to hang it up after that one.

Nash enjoyed a sensational NBA career that included two NBA MVP awards, eight All-Star Games, seven All-NBA team appearances and five assist titles. He's also earned a spot on the league's 75th Anniversary Team.

Nash played on the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks over his first 16 seasons before heading to the Los Angeles Lakers for his final two (2012-13 and 2013-14).

Unfortunately, Nash suffered a serious injury after a collision with then-Portland Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard in his second game as a Laker in 2012. Nash broke the joint between the tibia and the fibula in his knee, and he said he was never the same after that moment. Nash also suffered from nerve root irritation and chronic back issues.

So Nash was a shell of himself on the court during his time in L.A. He played three preseason games in 2014 but ultimately was unable to play in the regular season and retired after a sensational career in March 2015.

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Curry is still playing 11 seasons after that preseason matchup. He's averaging 26.6 points, 4.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game for the 4-3 Warriors.