Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash is in Manila to accompany the Canadian men’s national basketball team in its 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
During a meet-and-greet session held at the Sofitel Plaza in Pasay City, Nash was asked about this year’s NBA free agency, particularly Kevin Durant’s move to Golden State which sent shockwaves to the basketball world.
The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer said that even before Durant’s move, the 2008 Boston Celtics had set a standard on how to form a competitive, championship-caliber team.
“It’s a crazy time obviously with free agency, and the game has changed ever since LeBron (James) went to Miami (in 2010). And even before that, with Boston, they set a blueprint where they realized that you had to have three or four, if you include Rajon Rondo, there were four superstars in that Boston team,” Nash shared.
“And so LeBron thought, you know let me find a likely situation which gives him the best chance to win,” he continued.
Boston were able to get Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007 to join then long-time Celtics leader Paul Pierce, and the team went on to compile a 66-16 regular season record before winning the championship at the expense of the Los Angeles Lakers.
In 2010, James joined Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat. Chris Bosh also signed with the Heat, and the trio were able to win two titles in four straight finals appearances.
“And now Kevin’s done the same, but free agency obviously, with the growing cap, it seems like everybody has the opportunity now, and space, and can be in the hunt for players, so it’s exciting and I think it’s great for the game,” Nash said.
“I think everything is cyclical in life and it’s the same in the NBA, so we’ll see things come and go and change and this cycle is still going.
I’m excited for the Warriors. They have a bunch of really talented and unselfish players, who can set a great example for the way the game should be played.”
Nash, for his part, was part of a sign-and-trade deal that sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers to form a super team with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, and Dwight Howard. That Lakers squad finished the regular season with a 45-37 record but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
