Dallas Mavericks: What if Steve Nash never left in 2004?

Dallas Mavericks: What if Steve Nash never left in 2004

The Dallas  Mavericks elimination from the playoffs shifts the focus to the offseason. The Brooklyn (former New Jersey) Nets have spent most of their time in the shadow of their geographic rival, the New York Knicks. In the summer of 2019 that changed. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving signed with the Nets over the Knicks.

After injuries and a surprising finish in the bubble, Nets fans speculated over what the team’s next move would be. Who would be the coach? Would they trade for another star? How could the Nets assemble their own “Big 3”. On Thursday, they answered those questions by signing Steve Nash to a four-year deal to be their head coach.

Nash retired from the NBA in 2015. The two-time MVP was hired as a consultant by the Golden State Warriors almost immediately. Nash also served as GM of the Canadian National Team. He had no NBA coaching experience, but his connection with Kevin Durant from their time together in Golden State played a factor in the hiring.

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Hiring former Dallas Mavericks guard Steve Nash as Nets coach is no slam dunk

Nash is one of may former guards to enter the realm of coaching. Names like Steve Kerr, Jason Kidd, and Doc Rivers spring to mind. NBA teams have seen mixed results when hiring former players.

Steve Nash spent six seasons with the Dallas Mavericks as a player. He became one of Dirk Nowitzki’s best friends. Mavs fans will definitely be rooting for Nash to succeed in Brooklyn.

Here is a look back at his time in Dallas to set the stage to answer one of the great what-ifs in team history.

Next: Nash's playing career

Looking back at Steve Nash’s time with the Dallas Mavericks and beyond

Steve Nash came into the NBA as an undersized point guard out of a small college named Santa Clara University.  After two years in Phoenix, Steve Nash was traded to Dallas on draft night 1998. The Mavericks acquire Dirk Nowitzki on the same day. Dirk often says that without Nash, he probably would have ended up back in Europe shortly after coming to the NBA.

The two remain close. Nash tried to recruit Dirk to join his coaching staff in Brooklyn.

That friendship helped the Hall of Fame point guard burst onto the scene. Together with Dirk, they won the Maverick’s first playoff series in a decade in 2001. Nash went on to make the All-Star team in each of the next two seasons. He averaged 17.9 points and 7.7 assists in 2002.

In 2003, the Mavericks won 60 games and made the Western Conference Finals. They lost to the Spurs after a Dirk injury. The Mavericks had their own big three in Nowitzki, Nash, and Michael Finley.

Unfortunately for a multitude of reasons, the Mavs decided not to re-sign Nash the next year.

The legendary combination of Dirk and Nash never played again together. They both went on to win an MVP award. Dirk won a championship in 2011. Nash could never quite get over the hump.

Imagine if Nash never left Dallas. How lethal would two MVPs be on the same roster be? Nobody will ever know what would have happened, but here is what might have been if Steve Nash stayed with the Dallas Mavericks.

Next: Potential negative outcomes

Potential negative outcomes if Steve Nash stays with the Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks would have won more games with Nash on the team. If he stays in Dallas, it is unlikley that the duo combines to win three MVP awards, though.

Super teams of this decade prove that it is hard to win an MVP award on one. The Warriors were the best team in the NBA in 2017 and 2018, but Russell Westbrook and James Harden won the Most Valuable Player honors. The Cavaliers featuring LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love produced zero MVPs despite repeated trips to the finals.

The Nowitzki and Nash super team may have kept both players from winning MVP. Winning a title would have led to no complaints too.

The San Antonio Spurs were a powerhouse in the Western Conference at that time. Similarly to what is going on in Philadelphia right now, what if Dirk and Nash could never get over the hump together? Is there a world where the Mavs decide to trade Dirk or he leaves via free agency?

Nowitzki leaving him does not tarnish his overall legacy. Many of the all-time greats have played for multiple teams. Dirk’s longevity in Dallas made the 2011 championship so sweet. He earned his status as franchise GOAT through 21 straight years with the Mavericks.

Next: Potential positive outcomes

Dallas Mavericks: Potential positive outcomes if Nash stayed in Dallas

Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash were traded to the Mavs on the same exact night during the 1998 NBA draft. That is one of the best days in team history. The Mavericks essentially acquired two of the top 30 players all-time. Building off of that, the Mavericks could have created the next one-two punch right after Shaq and Kobe split up.

There is no world where having two Hall of Famers on the same team is a bad idea. Critics will say that the Mavericks could not have won because both Dirk and Nash were liabilities on defense. The Mavs won the championship with Dirk, Jason Terry, and an old Jason Kidd playing heavy minutes who were all defensive liabilities.

Steve Nash would make everyone around him better. Dirk created space, so role players could thrive. There is no doubt that had Nash stayed with Dirk, he would have won a championship. Nash was the master of the pick and roll and nobody would have been able to stop the Dallas Mavericks.

In the middle 2000s, the Mavs and Suns were reaching the Western Conference Finals with Dirk and Nash alone. Dallas may have won multiple rings with the pair. The excitement and expectations that Mavericks fans are experiencing now with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are less than what it would have been in 2005.

Finally, to be totally clear Nash leaving Dallas was not totally his fault. Marc Cuban did not offer Nash the contract he wanted so the Mavericks could sign Eric Dampier. Everyone knows how that one turned out, and it is unfortunate. Luckily, the Mavericks were able to get themselves a title in 2011. Hopefully, Nash can secure one with the Nets in the near future.