Winners: Steve Nash, Basketball

2002 - Feature Story

A Hall of Fame-worthy career in the National Basketball Association built gradually for Steve Nash. By the 2001-2002 season with the Dallas Mavericks, his fourth in the league, Nash had arrived as one of the league's premier players. The innovative and resourceful point guard, who was raised in Victoria, British Columbia, led the Mavericks to the Western Conference semi-finals for a second consecutive season. Nash, who averaged a career-best (to that point) 17.9 points and 7.7 assists per game, also added durable to his resume, playing in all 82 games, and was named to the NBA All-Star team for the first time.

2005 - Feature Story

In his first season with the Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash led his team to unprecedented heights. The Suns, who had been only 29-53 the season before, went 62-20 with Nash leading the attack all the way to the NBA West final. Nash averaged 11.5 assists per game to guide the NBA’s most potent offence. The Suns averaged 110 points a game, highest in the league in 10 years. Named to the all-NBA first team, he also won the league’s Most Valuable Player award, ahead of runner-up Shaquille O’Neal.

2006 - Feature Story

The Canadian point guard enjoyed his best statistical season, leading the league in minutes played on his way to winning his second consecutive Most Valuable Player award. As his Phoenix Suns went 54-28 and again reached the NBA West final, Nash averaged a career high in points (18.8), rebounds (4.2), field-goal percentage (.512) and free-throw percentage (.921). He was voted to start in the All-Star Game and again was named to the all-NBA first team.

Career Highlights

• 2007 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (NBA award for outstanding citizenship and community service) winner
• 2005, 2006 NBA Most Valuable Player with the Phoenix Suns
• 2004 Lou Marsh Memorial Award
• 2002, 2003, 2005-2008, 2010 NBA All-Star
• 2002, 2005, 2006 Lionel Conacher Award (Canada’s male athlete of the year)