Steve Nash has opened up about his decision to leave the Dallas Mavericks in 2004 for the Phoenix Suns.
The Canadian formed an incredible partnership with Dirk Nowitzki, and the duo transformed the Mavs into one of the best teams in the league.
However, Nash decided to leave Dallas in 2004, and many to this day think he departed for financial reasons. That, however, is not true.
Steve Nash says he wanted to stay at the Dallas Mavericks for his entire career
Nash’s move to the Suns has been one of the most talked-about free agency breakups in NBA history.
At the end of the 2003-04 season, when he entered free agency, the point guard was offered a deal by the Mavs that he felt was far below his value.
At the same time, the Suns came in with a six-year, $63 million contract. Even at that stage, Nash had his heart set on staying in Dallas and wanted to spend his whole career there.
However, owner Mark Cuban refused to match those terms or even get anywhere near them. That left Nash with no choice but to join Phoenix, where he became an absolute superstar.
The Canadian even came back to haunt the Mavs, and he has now revealed how he felt at the time about facing his old side.
Speaking on the Roommates Show, Nash said: “So, first year, because I know he (Nowitzki) says I left for the money. I wanted to stay in Dallas my whole career and was offered substantially less, too much to turn down, you know, discrepancy.
“So I felt like castoff, like nobody wanted me, the unloved child in a way.
“And so to play them in the playoffs that year, there was some hot sauce on it, you know what I mean? I can’t remember what game it was, but I think I hit a three. Dribble-down three, one of those games. To win it?”
Nowitzki interrupted him and said: “No, to tie it.”
Nash continued: “To tie it. In Dallas. So I think for me, I don’t know, there might have been bigger shots, but because I felt like they discarded me, that was an important series for me, as much as I didn’t like to admit it.”
Following his move, Nash went on to win back-to-back regular-season MVP awards with the Suns and was even awarded the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honour.
Such was his impact that Cuban has repeatedly stated since then that letting Nash leave was the biggest mistake of his tenure as the Mavs owner.
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