Steve Nash: The Making of an MVP.

Bob Forsey is the education officer at the Newfoundland Museum in St.
John’s.

Steve Nash, the two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player with the Phoenix Suns, has proven there is no limit to what you can achieve if you practise hard and improve incrementally.

Jeff Rud, in Steve Nash: the Making of a MVP, continues the story of his career, begun in Long Shot. He established then how Steve’s dedicated pursuit of excellence paid off with MVP awards at every level and spots on all-star and championship teams in every league.

To date, there are only a few exceptions: Nash has not won an Olympic gold medal or an NBA championship. But don’t bet against the latter; Nash still plays high-calibre basketball with the Phoenix Suns.

Rud’s biography is a work in progress, and explains why Nash was traded by the Suns (2002) to the Dallas Mavericks, only to be given up by them into free agency (2004) and resigned by the Suns, just as he had solidified his status as a NBA all-star point guard.

Rud lists the factors of talent, character, and spirit that enabled Steve to win two consecutive MVP Awards over such NBA stars as Shaquille O’Neal (2005) and Lebron James (2006).

After analyzing Nash’s success at every level of competition, Rud gave the reasons for his success: He set his NBA goal early (at age 14), sought progressively higher competition and the best coaching in every league, and raised his performance level to meet every challenge through constant practice.

Rud traced Nash’s life and career success to his lifelong adherence to basic principles, helping others, and sharing his good fortune. Nash is famous worldwide as a NBA all-star, and is gradually becoming known in Canada and the United States for his charity work. The Steve Nash Foundation helps “under-served children in their health, education, personal development and enjoyment of life” and will carry on its good works. Meanwhile, Steve’s goal is still to lead the Phoenix Suns to an NBA championship, and no doubt Jeff Rud will tell that story too. After all, Nash and Rud are not quitters.