Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash Still an MVP Half a Decade After Winning Back-to-Back
Phoenix Suns' point guard Steve Nash has averaged a double-double in six out of the seven seasons since he returned to the desert in 2004.
That first season back with the Suns Nash won league MVP honors after leading Phoenix to a 62-20 record, and the Western Conference's No. 1 seed. Nash averaged 15.5 PPG and 11.5 APG during the 2004-2005 season.
Nash's next season would be met with many challenges. Nash would have to work in new faces like Raja Bell and Tim Thomas after superstar power forward Amar'e Stoudemireย was lost during the off-season because ofย microfracture knee surgery.
The Suns flew under the radar, winning 54 games, and locking up the Western Conference's No. 2 seed. Nash would win his second-consecutive MVP award, averaging 18.8 PPG and 10.5 APG in the process.
Fast forward five years later and very little has changed. Nash is still averaging a solid double-double, Stoudemire is gone, and though the Suns are underachieving it would seem, they are still being overlooked.
MVP Seasons
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During his two MVP seasons Steve Nash was in his early 30's. In 2004-2005, Nash was 30 turning 31. In 2005-2006, Nash was 31 turning 32. By no means a young man, but still a few steps quicker and maybe an inch taller.
During those seasons Nash nearly single handedly revived the NBA. In 2004-2005, Nash and Suns' head coach Mike D'Antoni instituted an old school offensive systemย predicated onย outscoring opponents by simply pushing the ball up the floor for 48 minutes.
Some still say that Nash's numbers should be discounted because of this fact. But the failure of D'Antoni's system in New York and Phoenix's continued success without coach D'Antoni proved otherwise. One could just as easily argue that Nash is what made D'Antoni's system.
Nash's statistics averaged for both MVP seasons (2004-2005/2005-2006):
- 17.2 PPG
- 11.0 APG
- 3.8 RPG
- 34.9 MPG
- 50.7 FG%
- 43.5 3PT%
- 90.4 FT%
- 3.4 TOPG
- 77 Games
Playoffs MVP
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Often times regular season MVP's fade in the postseason's biggest moments. That's not the case with Steve Nash. If anything one could say that Phoenix's offense first-mentality let them down in the playoffs.
In Nash's first postseason as the MVP, 2004-2005, he played in 15 playoff games, leading the Suns to the Western Conference Finals where they would fall to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
Nash was superb however, orchestrating the Phoenix offense beautifully for the most part, averaging a career best 23.9 PPG and 52.0 FG percentage, while averaging a career playoff high 40.7 MPG.
The Suns went 9-6 that postseason, losing in Game five of the WCF's on their home court.
The next season, 2005-2006, Nash entered the playoffs with a unique supporting cast. Names like Raja Bell, Tim Thomas, Boris Diaw and Shawn Marion filled the Phoenix roster.
That postseason, Nash tied a playoff career high, playing 20 games, including two seven-game series in the postseason's first two rounds. Still, Nash averaged a double-double, with more than 10.0 APG and 20.0 PPG. Nash also shot over 50.0 percent from the field and over 90.0 percent from the foul line.
Nash's postseason numbers given his age, and the wear and tear due to his ongoing back issues, are more than dumbfounding looking back.
Did You Know?
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Did you know that Dirk Nowitzki's 2007 postseason was one of the worst of his career?
Nowitzki won MVP that season, but averaged nearly five points less than his regular season average during the playoffs.
Nowitzki's field goal percentage dropped nearly 12 percent from the regular season to the playoffs, while his three-point percentage and free throw percentage dropped 20 percent and 7 percent respectively.
Four Seasons In Between
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The four seasons between Nash's two MVP seasons and the current one he is having now were just as impressive if not better.
From 2006-2007 until 2009-2010, Nash was brilliant, leading the Suns to the postseason three times in four tries. Phoenix averaged 54 wins per season during that stretch, including a 61-win season during the 2006-2007 campaign.
Nash's individual numbers are just as eye-popping. Nash kept the double-double tradition alive, as well as his career 50-40-90 (50 FG percentage, 40 3PT percentage, & 90 FT percentage).
Nash's combined averages over those four seasons:
- 16.9 PPG
- 10.9 APG
- 3.3 RPG
- 34.0 MPG
- 51.2 FG%
- 44.8 3PT%
- 91.9 FT%
- 3.6 TOPG
- 78 Games
2010-2011 Season at Age 37
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We've all heard the analogy when referring to Nash's illustrious career. "It's like a fine wine, better with age."
It gets old sure, but it's so very true. At age 37, Nash is experiencing success never before seen. Sure there was Stockton, and Kidd has been solid also at age 37, but Nash has yet to change his style of play.
Nash will never be a role player. As long as he is lacing up a pair of sneakers in the locker room before a game, he will be the creator. The facilitator. The maestro.
Nash's numbers this season have been blurred by Phoenix's mediocre year, but they haven't gone anywhere I can assure you. Nash is averaging the same old 16.7 PPG to go along with his usual 11.1 APG.
It's likely that Nash has spoiled us, NBA fans, with his consistently amazing point guard play for nearly a decade.
The MVP voters even became accustomed to Nash's brilliance, shunning his success after rewarding it for two consecutive seasons.
Still, the average NBA fan has come to know Steve Nash for his unique and wowing plays on the floor, and respect him for his humble and down to earth attitude off of it.
The Future
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So what does the future hold for Steve Nash when the double-double seasons finally come to a close?
Is he a Hall of Famer?
Is he an All-Time Great?
Where does he rank?
So many questions will have to wait to be answered. Nash will likely be sitting third or fourth on the All-Time NBA assist list when it's all said and done, behind only John Stockton and Jason Kidd.
Nash's two MVP's can be debated but never forgotten. The Hall of Fame would more than likely open it's doors to Nash given his individual success and the success of his memorable teams.
Nash has also played more playoff games than any other player not to make the NBA Finals, 118. Nash's career has been filled with highlight reel plays and season-ending bad breaks.ย As a 15-year veteran,ย it seems his championship-window is getting smaller and smaller.
Many feel that the only thing Nash needs to complete one of the game's greatest journeys is a ring. But hey, he's only 37.
Patrick Clarke is a Featured Columnist for the Phoenix Suns and a student at Towson University.
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