Here’s why Steve Nash is skipping Warriors ring ceremony
By Nam Tran
Steve Nash, who will be receiving a championship ring with Golden State Warriors, will not attend the ring and banner ceremony.
Steve Nash had a great career when he was playing in the NBA. He was a back-to-back MVP and was an All-Star for much of his career. But he never won a championship title. Fast-forward a few years after his retirement and he is now a champion with the Golden State Warriors… but as a consultant, not a player. However, despite having a small role on the team, the Warriors’ general manager, Bob Myers, has made it clear to Nash that he will be given a championship ring.
As happy as Nash is to be part of a championship team and to be receiving a ring, he doesn’t want to be part of the ring and banner ceremony, according to Marc Stein.
In a phone interview, Stein asked him why he is choosing not to attend the ring ceremony on Tuesday night prior to the season opener. Nash said that he doesn’t feel it would be right for him, as a consultant, to be on the main stage when the players and coaches receive their rings.
"“This is their moment,” Nash said in a phone interview. “I couldn’t be happier to be part of a championship team and, more importantly, this championship culture.“But when you’ve played 18 years in the N.B.A. and you win it all as a consultant, it doesn’t feel right to do anything but stay in the background. I don’t want to disrespect anything or upset anyone, but I don’t feel like it’s my place to be there.”"
Nash was brought into the organization back in 2015 as a part-time player development consultant. But even though he is not with the team the majority of the season, he has played a big role in helping many players, specifically Kevin Durant, improve their game. Durant has even gone as far as calling Nash his “Yoda.”
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The Warriors will kick the season off on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.