Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Players
54
Steve
Nash # 13
Nash
Guard 6-3 178 Current NBA Season: 15
Born: 2/7/74, Johannesburg, South Africa College: Santa Clara
Acquired: Signed as free agent 7/14/04
Signed extension 7/27/09
Status: Signed through 2011-12
2009-10
In his 14th NBA campaign and sixth since returning to Phoenix (eighth overall as a Sun), more than validated
the contract extension he signed before the season’s start by registering the greatest statistical season for a point
guard 35 years of age or older in NBA history… Voted to start the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas, the second
starting nod of his career (2006), and his seventh career All-Star selection overall, fifth as a Sun… All-NBA Second
Team selection after averaging 16.5 points and an NBA-best 11.0 assists in 32.8 minutes, his lowest minute average
since 1999-00... Shot 50.7 percent from the field (23rd-NBA, 2nd-NBA guards), 42.6 percent from three-point
range (10th) and an NBA-best, franchise-record and career-high 93.8 percent from the free-throw line… Became
the oldest player in NBA history to lead the league in assists and overall led the league for the fourth time in his
career (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07)… Fifth player in NBA history to lead the league in assists in four different
seasons (since 1969-70 when assist leader was first based on assist average), joining John Stockton (9), Jason
Kidd (5), Kevin Porter (4) and Magic Johnson (4)... Averaged 11 or more assists for the franchise-record fourth
time as a Sun, fourth in his career and fourth in the last six seasons… Only one other NBA player has averaged
11 or more assists past the age of 33 (John Stockton in 1995-96) and Nash has now done so twice (2007-08,
2009-10)… Became the first player in NBA history over the age of 35 to total 800 or more assists in a single
season… It was the franchise-record fifth time in his career he has done so (Kevin Johnson – 3)… Finished the
season eighth on the NBA’s all-time assist list (8,397) after passing Rod Strickland (7,987) on Jan. 22… Then on
Jan. 25 became just the eighth player in NBA history to reach 8,000 career assists and only the seventh player
in league history with both 14,000 career points and 8,000 assists… Registered two 20-assist games (Oct. 30 vs.
Golden State, Nov. 9 at Philadelphia), the sixth and seventh 20-assist efforts of his career, all with the Suns…
The seven 20-assist games tie Kevin Johnson’s franchise record and Johnson and Nash have all 14 in Suns history…
First player in NBA history to record multiple 20-assist efforts in the first eight games of a season, and the five
games between the two performances were the fewest since Avery Johnson in 1997 (two games)… Became the
seventh player in NBA history to record at least one 20-assist effort in five different seasons (John Stockton,
Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Kevin Porter, Guy Rodgers, Kevin Johnson)… Already the only player in NBA
history to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the
free-throw line in a single season three different times, did so an NBA-record fourth time in 2009-10 (Larry Bird
is the only other player to do so even twice)… The feat has only been accomplished nine times in NBA history
overall and Nash has now done it four times (Bird-2, Reggie Miller, Mark Price, Dirk Nowitzki)… Suns all-time
leader in career three-point field goals made (915) after passing Dan Majerle (800) on Nov. 3… Became the first
player in team history to reach 900 three-pointers made on March 22… Finished the season with 1,484 career
threes made overall, 13th on the NBA’s all-time list… Led the NBA in free-throw percentage for the second time
in his career (2005-06) and shot better than 90 percent from the line for the sixth time, something only four
other players in NBA history have done (Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Rick Barry, Calvin Murphy)… For the third time
in the last five seasons and the second-straight campaign, set a new franchise record for single-season free-throw
percentage (2005-06, 2008-09)… Enjoyed a career-best 13-of-13 night at the line on Jan. 5 at Sacramento, his
most free tosses made without a miss in a single game… Became the 17th active player to reach 14,000 career
points on Dec. 26… Became only the 10th active player to play in 1,000 career games on March 14, joining Jason
Kidd, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Juwan Howard, Michael Finley, Rasheed Wallace, Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant
and Ray Allen… Later that month on March 31, joined Alvan Adams, Walter Davis, Dick Van Arsdale, Kevin Johnson,
Shawn Marion and Alvin Scott as only the seventh player in franchise history to play in 600 career games in a
Suns uniform… Appeared in at least 74 games for the seventh time in seven seasons since returning to Phoenix…
Led all NBA guards and ranked tied for fifth in the NBA overall with a team-high 49 double-doubles (35-14),
including 14 20-10 games (12-2) and one 20-20 game (1-0), the first in a regulation game in his career on Nov.
9 at Philadelphia… Scored 20 or more 26 times (18-8) and reached 30 points on five occasions (4-1), something
he did just twice in 2008-09… Recorded 54 double-digit assist efforts (39-15), 14 efforts of 15 or more (12-2),
10 of 16 or more (10-0), doubling his total from 2008-09 (five), and two 20-assist efforts, as many as the rest of
the NBA combined… Recorded as many or more assists than the entire opposing team on nine occasions (9-0)…
Registered two game-winners and now has eight in his career and five as a Sun (Oct. 28 at LA Clippers, Nov. 15
vs. Toronto)… Missed one game due to a sore lower back/abdomen on Feb. 23 (1-0).