Steve Nash's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Steve Nash. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Steve Nash is a retired Canadian professional basketball player and former head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. Renowned for his exceptional playmaking skills and shooting accuracy, he spent 18 seasons in the NBA, earning eight All-Star selections, seven All-NBA honors, and two NBA Most Valuable Player awards. He's considered one of the best in NBA history in three-point shooting, free-throw shooting, total assists, and assists per game. Nash was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1986: Ranked Second in Point-Assist Double Doubles

Starting from the 1986-87 season, Steve Nash ranked second in regular season point–assist double doubles.

1991: Summer Universiade Silver Medal

In 1991, at the age of 17, Steve Nash was the youngest member of Team Canada at the Summer Universiade, where the team won a silver medal.

1991: Led Team to Provincial Championship

In the 1991–92 season, Steve Nash led his team to the British Columbia AAA provincial championship title.

1994: Conference Player of the Year

In the 1994–95 season, Steve Nash was named Conference Player of the Year and the Broncos topped the WCC.

1999: Tournament of the Americas MVP

In 1999, Steve Nash led Canada to a silver medal at the Tournament of the Americas, which qualified the team for the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Nash was also named the tournament MVP.

2002: All-Star and All-NBA Third Team Honors

In the 2002–03 season, Steve Nash replicated his previous season's performance and earned All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honours.

2004: Averaged 11.5 assists per game

In 2004, Steve Nash averaged 11.5 assists per game. During his career, Nash led the league in assists for five years, and he won the NBA Skills Challenge in 2005 and 2010.

2004: FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament

In 2004, Steve Nash led Team Canada during qualifying for the Summer Olympics at the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He led the tournament in assists and was named tournament MVP, but Canada finished fourth, missing out on the Olympic spots. That was the last time Nash played for Canada as he was reportedly upset about the firing of head coach Jay Triano in 2004.

2004: Return to Phoenix and Conference Finals

In 2004, Steve Nash returned to Phoenix and helped the Suns improve from a 29–53 record in 2003–04 to 62–20 in 2004–05, reaching the conference finals for the first time in 11 years, and earning his first MVP award.

2005: NBA Skills Challenge

In 2005, Steve Nash won the NBA Skills Challenge.

2005: Conference Finals and MVP Award

In 2005, after Steve Nash returned to the Phoenix Suns in 2004, the team reached the conference finals for the first time in 11 years and he earned his first MVP award.

May 2006: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People

In May 2006, Steve Nash was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Charles Barkley lauded Nash for his unselfishness on the basketball court.

September 2006: Jersey Retired by Santa Clara

In September 2006, Steve Nash's jersey No. 11 was retired, becoming the first Santa Clara student-athlete to receive that honour.

2006: Averaged 10.5 assists per game

In 2006, Steve Nash averaged 10.5 assists per game. During his career, Nash led the league in assists for five years, and he won the NBA Skills Challenge in 2005 and 2010.

2006: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2006, Time magazine recognized Steve Nash as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his philanthropic contributions.

2006: Named League MVP Again

In the 2005–06 season, Steve Nash was named MVP for the second consecutive year.

December 2007: Receives Order of Canada

On 28 December 2007, it was announced that Steve Nash would receive Canada's highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada, recognizing his athletic achievements and contributions.

2007: Averaged 11.6 assists per game

In 2007, Steve Nash averaged 11.6 assists per game. During his career, Nash led the league in assists for five years, and he won the NBA Skills Challenge in 2005 and 2010.

2007: Appointed to the Order of Canada

In 2007, Steve Nash was appointed to the Order of Canada for his contributions to basketball and philanthropy.

2007: Russell Comments on Nash Losing MVP

In 2007, commenting on Steve Nash losing out to Dirk Nowitzki for the 2007 NBA MVP, Boston Celtics centre and Hall of Famer Bill Russell stated that he thought Nash was one of the great athletes in all sports on the world stage, and that the two MVPs he got, he deserved.

2007: Best Point Guard in the League

In 2007, in a survey by nba.com, Steve Nash received 85% of the votes by the league's general managers as the best point guard in the league.

June 2008: Star on Canada's Walk of Fame

On 3 June 2008, it was announced that Steve Nash would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, honouring his contributions to basketball and Canadian culture.

2008: 50-40-90 Club Member

In 2008, Steve Nash accomplished the feat of shooting 50% or better from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line, making him a member of the 50-40-90 club.

2008: Awarded Honorary Doctor of Laws

In 2008, Steve Nash was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Victoria.

2008: Steve Patterson Award

In 2008, the Steve Nash Foundation was awarded the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy, recognizing its contributions to fostering health in kids.

September 2009: Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree

On 18 September 2009, Steve Nash was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria for his athletic achievements and philanthropic work through the Steve Nash Foundation.

2009: League Leader in Field Goal Percentage

Between the 2005–06 and 2009–10 seasons, with Steve Nash operating at the point, the Phoenix Suns led the league in field goal percentage.

2009: 50-40-90 Club Member

In 2009, Steve Nash accomplished the feat of shooting 50% or better from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line, making him a member of the 50-40-90 club.

2009: Best Passer and Best Basketball IQ

In 2009, in a similar survey to 2007, Steve Nash was rated as the best passer and the player possessing the best basketball IQ.

2010: Carried the Olympic torch and lit the Olympic cauldron

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Steve Nash became the first NBA player in Olympic history to carry the torch and light the Olympic cauldron.

2010: NBA Skills Challenge and Averaged 11.0 assists per game

In 2010, Steve Nash won the NBA Skills Challenge and also averaged 11.0 assists per game. During his career, Nash led the league in assists for five years, and he won the NBA Skills Challenge in 2005 and 2010.

2012: Career Free Throw Shooting Average

As of the end of the 2012–13 season, Steve Nash had a 90.4% career free throw shooting average, formerly the best in NBA history.

2013: Career Free Throw Shooting Average

As of the end of the 2012–13 season, Steve Nash had a 90.4% career free throw shooting average, formerly the best in NBA history.

January 2016: Ranked Seventh Best Point Guard of All Time by ESPN.com

On 12 January 2016, ESPN.com rated Steve Nash as the seventh-best point guard of all time.

2016: Invested to the Order of Canada

In 2016, Steve Nash was invested to the Order of Canada, formalizing his appointment from 2007.

2018: Induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2018, Steve Nash was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizing his exceptional NBA career.

2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Steve Nash was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

2021: Named 38th Greatest Player in NBA History

In 2021, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary, The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Steve Nash as the 38th greatest player in NBA history.