The year was 1990 and a promising, 18-year-old Canadian point guard named Sherman Hamilton was wondering just what the heck was up with the skinny, 16-year-old bundle of energy who refused to stop moving.

“We were trying out for the junior national team in Lethbridge Alberta, and this kid just wouldn’t stop running, he just had a motor, that was my first introduction to Steve,” Hamilton recalled on Friday.

“Steve,” of course, is Steve Nash, who announced late Thursday that he would miss the entire season, perhaps bringing an end to his remarkable career.

Hamilton, who would team with Nash many times, most notably in nearly leading the Canadian national team to an Olympic medal in Sydney 10 years later, said it was a relentless drive and a commitment to staying true to his roots that allowed Nash to reach the greatest of NBA heights.

“There’s no question, when you talk about a guy who has made it to the pinnacle of the game, who is average in all aspects, normal height, not the fastest guy, not the strongest guy, but the work ethic got him there, I think that creates hope for everybody,” Hamilton, now a Raptors television analyst, said.

“There’s no reason for Steve Nash to be a two-time MVP. There’s a lot of guys who are 6-foot-2 in the NBA, point guards who just hang around and then disappear. That’s the difference with Steve and is more motivating. We (Canadians) didn’t have a 7-footer who was dominating. We had a normal guy, who worked his way and got to a level that we can all appreciate and be proud of and that’s the most impressive thing about Steve.”

From one scholarship offer (Santa Clara), to captain of the national team, MVP of the 2004 FIBA qualifying tournament, two NBA MVPs and seven All-NBA spots, including three on the first team. Not bad for a kid from Victoria, B.C.

Hamilton played with Nash every summer for years, as both made their way to the NCAA and on to professional careers (Hamilton played several seasons in Europe). While he is quick to praise Nash for his athletic abilities, Hamilton says his off-the-court behaviour was just as impressive.

“He was an endearing guy. You just liked him,” Hamilton said, chuckling while thinking back to that initial meeting 24 years ago.

“I can say this, the same guy he is now is the same guy he was at 16 in terms of being a guy you want to be around, being true and a friend that you would consider a lifetime friend.

“He could have flown first class (later, with the national team). He could have asked for the special things that his lifestyle could have afforded, but no, he was with us every step of the way. He was in the same hotels, same plane flights, sat in the same seats, he didn’t get the extra room. He was one of us and I think that comes because of the history we all have. All of us didn’t make it to the NBA, but he saw where we all came from ... it was great to see him not “Hollywood” it, because he was just true to who he was.”

When Nash was directing the most exciting and effective offence the league had seen in years in Phoenix, he and Amar’e Stoudemire formed one of the deadliest combinations in NBA history.

John Stockton and Karl Malone got the job done like few others, but Nash and Stoudemire added an extra dash of flair.

What made it all work so brilliantly? “It’s just his knowledge of the game of basketball, willing to learn, willing to improve, willing to accept all challenges,” Stoudemire told the Sun on Friday.

“That’s awesome and then, when you are blessed with a certain vision and a certain talent and still be able to enhance that, to have an intelligence toward the game and he was able to accomplish (what he did).”

Not surprisingly, Stoudemire, who has fought through injury trouble of his own for years, is hoping this isn’t it for Nash.

“I’m not sure if it’s over or not,” Stoudemire said.

“For him to be out for the season is kind of devastating for me to hear, because I’m such a Steve Nash fan and a friend as well. So far, he had a remarkable, remarkable career and hopefully it continues.

“Coming back from injury is never an easy thing, it truly isn’t. It takes a lot of perseverance a lot of time, a lot of patience, especially Steve with his back, that’s more of a touchy injury, because the back is very sensitive,” he said.

If Nash cannot return, his old friend Stoudemire just hopes Nash can get well enough “to live a healthy life with his family and kids. That’s what’s most important.”

Hamilton is amazed that Nash lasted this long.

“Having had a chance to play with him and practice with him and spend a lot of time with him over the years, you realize that it’s an everyday thing,” he said.

“I got a chance to see it. People see the end result, but they don’t see behind the scenes, what he had to do. His body didn’t just fail him now. His body has been failing him for a while.”

Yet, Nash made the all-star game at 38, becoming the oldest point guard ever to make the team.

One final, improbable achievement for a one-of-a-kind player who made a habit of doing that sort of thing.

PLAYING LIKE NASH IS A GOOD THING

Raptors head coach Dwane Casey paid Steve Nash the highest of compliments on Friday, calling him “the prototypical point guard that you teach your point guards to be like.”

Not that trying to be like Nash is a recipe for success.

“The way that Phoenix played, that style of play, had a unique style because of him. I think a lot of people have tried to emulate that style, free-wheeling, up and down basketball, but unless you have a Steve Nash, it’s very difficult to play that style of play,” Casey said.

“We also call when you circle around the basket, ‘do the Steve Nash.’”

Casey joked that if Nash is smart, he will not get into coaching when he retires, but rather become an executive.

Former Raptors and Suns general manager Bryan Colangelo told the Sun via e-mail: “Whatever he may have lacked physically, he more than made up for with sheer determination, almost irregular hard work and tremendous basketball and emotional intelligence.

“I hope this is not the end for him, but Steve will surely go down as one of the all-time great point guards. Clearly his contributions to the game and specifically to Canadian Basketball have and will continue to be felt for many years to come.”

Knicks superstar forward Carmelo Anthony was sorry to hear about Nash’s latest injury setback, which could force him to retire.

“If this is a career-ending injury, he will be missed, he definitely left a huge footprint out there,” Anthony said.