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Observing fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being crowned as this season’s NBA MVP filled Steve Nash with immense pride.
Then, the moment took on even greater significance.
Nash, the first and only Canadian to hold the MVP title until now, was recognized by Gilgeous-Alexander in his acceptance speech on Wednesday night as a key influence in his basketball journey.
“It really means a lot to me,” remarked Nash, who won MVP in both 2005 and 2006, during a video conference with a select group of journalists on Thursday. “I don’t require validation, but there’s an incredible joy that comes from watching these players flourish and knowing they attribute some of their success to you. That feeling is truly rewarding and exceptional. I can’t think of a higher compliment than that.”
Reflect on Steve Nash’s standout moments from his MVP season in 2004-05!
Gilgeous-Alexander, recognized as the NBA’s top scorer, achieved 71 out of a potential 100 first-place votes for the award, which he will officially receive on Thursday night before he and the Oklahoma City Thunder face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals (8:30 ET, ESPN).
He was the standout performer on the best team, which boasted an impressive 68-14 record during the regular season and set an NBA mark for point differential.
“This is truly a remarkable moment for me,” Nash expressed. “I feel a genuine thrill witnessing his accomplishments. He is likely my favorite player to watch, and I hope he maintains this upward trajectory, accumulating more seasons like this one while representing himself, his country, and his team with such excellence. He’s extraordinary.”
When Nash secured his MVP accolades, Gilgeous-Alexander was merely a small child, around 5 or 6 years old. Yet he has long been heralded as Canada’s next basketball sensation, and he has now officially fulfilled that promise.
Like Nash, Gilgeous-Alexander is a vital part of Canada’s national basketball program. He guided Canada to a bronze medal at the 2023 World Cup, securing the team’s qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it seems probable that he has his sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Games as well.
This season, 25 Canadian-born players made scoring contributions in the NBA, with seven — Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Shaedon Sharpe, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Wiggins, and Dillon Brooks — surpassing the 1,000-point mark. No other country outside the U.S. had as many players reaching that milestone.
“He laid the groundwork,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated about Nash. “He was the first Canadian basketball player I learned about. Without the visibility of players from Canada entering the NBA, it wouldn’t have seemed as attainable a dream for us as we grew up.”
