A soccer-playing Canadian … Steve Nash grew up on Vancouver Island and played a variety of sports, including soccer and, it being Canada, ice hockey. It wasn’t until around the age of 12 that Nash became interested in basketball (the sport he would one day make his living in), but he continued to play soccer as well. It’s been said his soccer abilities help make him the talented point guard he is today, being able to see passing angles that others might not, and as this video indicates, he also knows how to use his head. Age is just a number … Nash turned 36 years young in February, but he’s by no means slowing down. The two-time MVP had another impressive season for the Phoenix Suns, leading the league in assists per game for the fourth time in six seasons. How does he do it? He not only works as hard as any basketball player, but he also works smart, and that includes watching his diet. A little more than a year ago, he visited a naturopath who suggested eliminating refined sugar from his diet. Nash took the advice and it’s obviously been paying dividends. Entrepreneurial spirit… Along with work through his foundation, Nash is also involved in soccer (both the Women’s Professional Soccer league and as co-owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps), film production (Meathawk), marketing (Apoko Group), skin care (Mission Skincare) and sports clubs (Steve Nash Sports Club), among other endeavors.
By the Numbers:
- 13 Club members pledge to donate $13 to Nash’s foundation for every assist Nash gets in the regular season, to “assist underserved children in their health, personal development, education and enjoyment of life.”
- Last season was the fourth time Nash joined the prestigious 50/40/90 club, which means hitting 50 percent of his field goals, 40 percent of his three-point shots and 90 percent of his free throws.
- This June is the Steve Nash Foundation’s fourth Showdown, an eight-on-eight soccer game featuring NBA and soccer stars, to benefit children’s programs on three different continents.
- His .903 career free throw percentage is currently second in NBA history, .0006 percentage points behind Mark Price.
- In 2006, he was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
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Photo by Keith Allison via Flickr.