Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki are one of the biggest ‘what if’ stories in the NBA. The pair teamed up in Dallas early in their respective careers and had a 6 season run together. However, Nash chose to leave Dallas in free agency and sign with the Phoenix Suns in 2004.

The Suns drafted Nash in 1996 and traded him to the Mavericks two seasons into his career. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has since then lamented over letting Nash go. He has said he will not make the same mistake with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.

Despite Nowitzki and Nash having their own success stories, the pair built a friendship in the years they spent together. That bond has been a long-lasting one. Nash put up a picture of Nowitzki hiking, jokingly comparing the 7-foot German with the Lord of The Rings character, Gandalf.

Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash’s Friendship

Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki joined the Dallas Mavericks together on draft day 1998. Nowitzki was drafted with the 10th overall pick, while Nash was traded to Dallas from the Phoenix Suns. The Suns exchanged Nash for Martin Müürsepp, Bubba Wells, the draft rights to the 19th pick (Pat Garrity) and a 1999 first-round draft pick (Shawn Marion).

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Dirk had a hard time settling in Dallas after leaving his family in Germany. he almost called it quits on his NBA career until Nash helped him get used to the situation. This sowed the seeds for their friendship, which lasts to this day. The pair would lead Dallas in ending their 10-year playoff drought in 2001. However, they would lose to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round, which set a precedent for the future playoff runs that Dirk and Nash had together.

Their bond would improve on and off the court, but they would be beaten by Jason Kidd’s Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2002 playoffs. The Spurs would spoil Mavericks run to the conference finals in 2003 and the Mavs lost to the Kings again in the first round of the 2004 playoffs.

Nash would return to Phoenix in 2004 and went on to win back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006. Nowitzki would win his first and only MVP in 2007. Nowitzki won his only championship in 2011, while Nash retired without a ring.

Despite the losing years and Nash’s departure for a Western Conference rival, the pair have stayed good friends and remain close to this day.