Nash's MVP award may lead to e in kids playing basketball in Canada

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Nash's MVP award may lead to e in kids playing basketball in Canada
LORI EWING
May 9, 2005

(CP) - When Steve Nash collected the NBA's Most Valuable Player award Sunday, he became the game's biggest salesperson in Canada.

The unassuming point guard has inspired a generation of budding young basketball stars across the country with his image as your average everyday Canadian, say Canada Basketball officials, and they hope to see a e in would-be Nashes signing up to play the game.

"Kids respect him, and look up to him, he's such an excellent role model," said Walter Edwards, Canada Basketball's associate executive director. "I think now it's only going to provide hope for a lot of kids that, there is talent in Canada that is capable of rising to NBA all-star status, not just making the NBA, but NBA all-star status."

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Nash edged Shaquille O'Neal for the MVP award after sparking a stunning turnaround with the Phoenix Suns this season. The point guard from Victoria became the first Canadian and only the second international player after Nigeria's Hakeem Olajuwon to win the award.

But for all his exploits south of the border, Nash is very much involved at the developmental level back home. Canada Basketball is in the process of expanding the B.C.-based Steve Nash Youth Basketball League across the country, a program Nash single-handedly saved from a certain death after the Vancouver Grizzlies departed for Memphis in 2001. His mom Jean runs the grassroots program, which is designed for kids from Grades four through seven.

More than 8,000 kids participated in the popular program in B.C., this past year, more than double the number from before Nash took it over, and kids from the program piled onto 13 buses to travel to Seattle to see the Suns play the Sonics.

Edwards said they plan to have the nationwide Nash program in operation by September of 2006.

The Victoria guard is an easy sell. Kids love him because they can relate to him.

"He's really one of us," said Edwards. "He's just a normal guy, doesn't possess any one particular outstanding skill, he just works hard and does everything well."

When Canadian men's team coach Leo Rautins meets with up-coming players, he holds up Nash as an example of how hard work pays off.

"Here's a guy who's no different than these kids sitting in the gyms, 14 and 15-year-olds that I talk to," said Rautins. "Steve didn't have any more talent, jumping ability, quickness, size, anything than a lot of these kids, but he just worked his tail off to get where he is, to now get MVP. . . to me that's such an attainable something now for these kids to grasp."

They can also grasp the fact Nash is only (maybe) six foot three.

"Shaq's seven feet, 300 pounds," added Rautins. "How many of us can identify with that? I told the kids, if Steve walked in here, outside of the hair, you wouldn't recognize him. Yet he's the MVP of the NBA."

Jay Triano, Nash's good friend and former national team coach, travelled to Phoenix for Sunday's announcement. He said Nash, the heart and soul of the Canadian team for nearly a decade, inspires young players to reach that much higher.

"We encourage our players to want to be good, but when one of our own makes it to the NBA, and then becomes the best player in the league, it's got to be inspiring for every kid who plays basketball," said Triano. "There's a lot more people who can relate to him, instead of having him be a seven-footer where kids are going to say 'I'm never going to grow.'

"People can relate to this, and it just shows with hard work and determination, anything's possible.

"You don't have to come from Toronto, you don't have to come from a big city, there's no excuses."

Because of the rigours of the NBA and the wear-tear on his body from a decade of playing year-round, Nash says he's likely played his last game for the national team.

But he confirmed Sunday there's a good bet he'll be in Toronto this summer, hosting his first charity all-star game. He's awaiting final approval from the league to host the game, which would fill a void left by the departure of Vince Carter, who hosted an annual game before the Raptors traded him to New Jersey.

And chances are Canadians will be seeing much more of Nash. While Nike execs were tight-lipped about their plans to market the point guard, he will likely be front and centre in ad campaigns for the running shoe company in the near future.

"Stay tuned," hinted Nike's Derek Kent.

"We're so proud of Steve and what he's achieved this season," added Kent. "He's an amazing ambassador for the brand on the court and off the court, he's well-spoken, community driven, a team player, and he's a wonderful face for the brand."

Rautins also made the big leap from growing up in Canada to playing in the NBA, playing two seasons with Philadelphia and Atlanta. He says the growth in the game in Canada since he played is mind-boggling.

"The impact of the NBA has been so great, you just see it all the time. When I grew up, you were lucky to see a game a week (on TV)," said Rautins. "Whereas now, you can see all the basketball you want, and you can also go and see it in person.

"When I said I wanted to be an NBA player, if you really think about it, it was kind of crazy. For one, nobody did it. And you never saw it (on TV). So it was kind of unrealistic. Now if a kid says I want to do that, there's more opportunities than ever to get there."

The 31-year-old Nash has paved the way for plenty of talent coming up behind him, Rautins said.

"I think at last count, there were 79 (Canadian) guys in the NCAA, over 100 playing overseas in some of the best leagues in the world. I've just encountered maybe 20, 30 high school kids heading to Division 1 schools next year, good schools like Syracuse, Michigan, UCLA, Pepperdine, Wisconsin. . . the list is unbelievable," said Rautins, whose son Andy will be a freshman at Syracuse next season.

"If you look at all that talent, it's really growing."

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