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What better active guard than Steve Nash? (link)
Stuart
Stuart
Nash Shows Young Guards His Way of Doing Things By VINCENT M. MALLOZZI
UNION, N.J., July 1 — In the final minutes of a basketball camp at Kean University’s Harwood Arena, Steve Nash went left one last time.
Nash — the slight-of-build, sleight-of-hand point guard of the Phoenix Suns — made his move without the ball. Sitting at midcourt with pen in hand, he turned to his left to assist a long line of young men holding photos, posters, sneakers, T-shirts, caps and basketballs.
“There’s a lot of talent in this gym,” said Nash, a two-time N.B.A. most valuable player. “It’s a real good group.”
So good, in fact, that they had arrived here by invitation for the camp, which was organized by Nike. For three days, Nash tutored 32 of the nation’s top high school and college point guards on matters like breaking a trap, setting a screen and rolling off a pick. All that was left now was to give them his autograph.
D. J. Augustin, a 5-foot-11 sophomore at Texas, and many of the others described themselves as fans and students of Nash’s game.
“He’s always thinking out there, always a step ahead of everyone else, and he always seems to make the right pass at the right time,” Augustin said.
Augustin, who averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 assists for the Longhorns last season, said he learned something during the camp about Nash that he could not see from watching game tapes.
“He’s easy to talk to,” he said. “He’s not one of those superstars who has to walk around with a bunch of bodyguards around him. He’s just a regular guy, the kind of player who wants to be approached.”
Darren Collison, a 6-1 junior at U.C.L.A., said he, too, marveled at Nash’s “ability to control a game.”
“He doesn’t appear to have the physical capabilities to do what he does,” said Collison, who averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.2 steals last season. “He can get to the hoop almost any time he wants, and he can create a shot with either hand.”
Collison, who considered entering his name in last month’s N.B.A. draft, said the wisdom that Nash imparted over the weekend was invaluable to anyone dreaming of playing at the next level.
“Most every camp I’ve gone to does a lot of one-on-one stuff, but this was different,” Collison said. “We learned a lot about playing without the ball, cutting without the ball and coming off of screens. It was a lot different, but very helpful.”
Sherron Collins, a 5-11 sophomore at Kansas who averaged 9.3 points and 2.9 assists last season, also said he studied Nash’s game.
“It amazes me that a guy with such a frail frame and who is not very tall can finish over defenders who are 6-11 and 7 feet,” Collins said. “Some N.B.A. players seem like they’re just in it for the money, but Nash has a passion for the game that you know is very real. He’s one of the reasons why the N.B.A. game is so exciting.”
When the autograph session ended, Nash shook a few hands, smiled for photographers and made his way toward the door.
“If he went right now for a walk down Fifth Avenue, most people probably wouldn’t recognize him.” said Craig Ehlo, a former N.B.A. player who helped Nash run the camp. “But on a basketball court, he’s always the center of attention.”
Ehlo said the players at the camp clearly admired Nash’s work ethic and demeanor on the court. But, he added, “when he puts on that No. 13 jersey, it’s like he becomes this caped crusader, like he’s suddenly Superman out there.”
UNION, N.J., July 1 — In the final minutes of a basketball camp at Kean University’s Harwood Arena, Steve Nash went left one last time.
Nash — the slight-of-build, sleight-of-hand point guard of the Phoenix Suns — made his move without the ball. Sitting at midcourt with pen in hand, he turned to his left to assist a long line of young men holding photos, posters, sneakers, T-shirts, caps and basketballs.
“There’s a lot of talent in this gym,” said Nash, a two-time N.B.A. most valuable player. “It’s a real good group.”
So good, in fact, that they had arrived here by invitation for the camp, which was organized by Nike. For three days, Nash tutored 32 of the nation’s top high school and college point guards on matters like breaking a trap, setting a screen and rolling off a pick. All that was left now was to give them his autograph.
D. J. Augustin, a 5-foot-11 sophomore at Texas, and many of the others described themselves as fans and students of Nash’s game.
“He’s always thinking out there, always a step ahead of everyone else, and he always seems to make the right pass at the right time,” Augustin said.
Augustin, who averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 assists for the Longhorns last season, said he learned something during the camp about Nash that he could not see from watching game tapes.
“He’s easy to talk to,” he said. “He’s not one of those superstars who has to walk around with a bunch of bodyguards around him. He’s just a regular guy, the kind of player who wants to be approached.”
Darren Collison, a 6-1 junior at U.C.L.A., said he, too, marveled at Nash’s “ability to control a game.”
“He doesn’t appear to have the physical capabilities to do what he does,” said Collison, who averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.2 steals last season. “He can get to the hoop almost any time he wants, and he can create a shot with either hand.”
Collison, who considered entering his name in last month’s N.B.A. draft, said the wisdom that Nash imparted over the weekend was invaluable to anyone dreaming of playing at the next level.
“Most every camp I’ve gone to does a lot of one-on-one stuff, but this was different,” Collison said. “We learned a lot about playing without the ball, cutting without the ball and coming off of screens. It was a lot different, but very helpful.”
Sherron Collins, a 5-11 sophomore at Kansas who averaged 9.3 points and 2.9 assists last season, also said he studied Nash’s game.
“It amazes me that a guy with such a frail frame and who is not very tall can finish over defenders who are 6-11 and 7 feet,” Collins said. “Some N.B.A. players seem like they’re just in it for the money, but Nash has a passion for the game that you know is very real. He’s one of the reasons why the N.B.A. game is so exciting.”
When the autograph session ended, Nash shook a few hands, smiled for photographers and made his way toward the door.
“If he went right now for a walk down Fifth Avenue, most people probably wouldn’t recognize him.” said Craig Ehlo, a former N.B.A. player who helped Nash run the camp. “But on a basketball court, he’s always the center of attention.”
Ehlo said the players at the camp clearly admired Nash’s work ethic and demeanor on the court. But, he added, “when he puts on that No. 13 jersey, it’s like he becomes this caped crusader, like he’s suddenly Superman out there.”
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