Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant were both known for their fierce competitiveness and leadership. They reached the peak of their prowess at the same time and had some epic battles in the playoffs.
In 2006, Nash and the Phoenix Suns were on a roll, but Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers gave them a tough first-round duel. In the end, the Suns prevailed, but Kobe left Nash with a mind-boggling parting message.
According to Steve, he was confused about whether Bryant was showing him respect and sportsmanship or implying that the Lakers only lost because he had better teammates.
"He came to me, and he said, 'How do you trust your teammates?'… I thought, first of all, that's a sign of respect, and I thought to myself, with a smile, well, I have to trust my teammates [laughs] Cause I ain't anywhere near the player you are," Nash recalled shortly after Kobe's death in 2020. "When I walked away from the conversation, I have to admit, was he Jedi mind-tricking me, or was he telling me, 'Just so we're clear on the ledger, you had a better team.' I love this about Kobe Bryant."
Nash liked Kobe as a rival rather than a teammate
Steve played the final two seasons of his legendary NBA career with the Lakers , hoping he and Bryant could accomplish something great together. Unfortunately, their two-year stint as teammates was marred by injuries.
That said, Nash enjoyed it more when he and Kobe were rivals than teammates. For the Canadian, facing off against Bryant brought a different level of intensity and determination out of him as a player, and the challenge of trying to outsmart and outplay one of the greatest players in the game fueled his competitive spirit.
Reflecting on his rivalry with Bryant, Nash admitted that all those battles in which they pushed each other to excel and constantly sought to elevate their game hold a special place in his heart.
"Well, it was a thrill to be his teammate, but If I look back and remember Kobe, I'm going to think about the competition. And that was special for me and my career to face the ultimate competitor, one of the greatest players to ever play the game," he confided.
A rivalry filled with mutual respect
Bryant and Nash entered the NBA in 1996. Right from the get-go, Steve said he sensed that he and Kobe would collide one way or another, given their evident differences as players.
As a phenom straight out of high school, Bryant was brash and confident, while Nash was a bit timid at first. However, as their respective careers played out, Nash and Bryant's similarities unfolded. As it turned out, they were both admirable leaders with incredible hunger for victory and excellence.
Steve and Kob' developed a rivalry as two of the most dominant players in the Western Conference. But while they were foes on the court, they also shared a deep respect for each other's skills and work ethic. They recognized the hard work and dedication each had put into their craft, leading to a genuine admiration for one another's abilities and accomplishments.
"We go way back, we were in the same draft class. He was 18 straight out of high school, I was a graduate of Santa Clara — we could not have been more different. He's the brashest, most electrifying 18-year-old I've ever seen in my life and I was nervous, insecure, anxious trying to make a name for myself," Nash recounted.
"And as the story goes, we played our whole careers in the West, we played each other three times in the playoffs, had some epic battles, weren't always friends, were lucky to be teammates, probably hated each other at times, but through it all had a tremendous amount of respect for each other," he added.
Kobe's comments on Nash's MVPs
At the height of their rivalry, Nash got the better of Bryant in terms of regular season MVPs , winning the award twice in a row (2006 and 2007). Unsurprisingly, Kobe had an interesting take on Steve's remarkable feats.
For "Black Mamba," who was crowned MVP in 2008, Nash's teammates significantly contributed to his individual success. In typical Kobe fashion, he even once told Nash that he won those MVP awards not solely due to his individual talent, but also because he had the privilege of playing alongside more well-rounded teammates.
"I tell Steve, you won MVP but I was playing with Smush Parker," Bryant said . "He's playing with [Leandro] Barbosa. I'm playing with Smush and Kwame [Brown]. My goodness."
While their competitive nature drove them to push each other to greater heights, it was Nash and Bryant's respect for one another that truly defined their relationship both on and off the court. In retrospect, Steve and Kobe's rivalry conveys what true competition means on basketball's grandest stage.
Related: Dwyane Wade recalls crazy first meeting with MJ: "'Why y'all won't let Jordan in?' Somebody was like, 'He wouldn't pay'"
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