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During the Warriors’ coaches meetings, Steve Kerr and his assistants often make a comment that crystalizes Steve Nash’s place in NBA history.

“We call Steve Nash ‘Steph Curry on steroids,'” Kerr said earlier this season. “Not literally. He’s passed every test, just so you know.”

Joking aside, Kerr’s comments illustrated one of many reasons why Nash will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018, as ESPN reported. It also explains why the Warriors hired Nash in 2015 as a part-time player-development consultant. Through his 19-year NBA career with the Phoenix Suns (1996-1998, 2004-12), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004) and Los Angeles Lakers (2012-2015), Nash finished third on the NBA’s all-time assists list (10,335) behind Jason Kidd and John Stockton.

Because of those passing qualities, Nash won two regular-season MVP awards, landed on eight All-Star teams and was named on three All-NBA first teams. When Nash played for Mike D’Antoni with the Phoenix Suns (2004-2008), the tandem popularized a high-paced offense that put heavier emphasis on outside shooting, pick-and-rolls and positionless players.

“Steve’s influence is reflective in the way countless point guards are playing. The style, the combination of Mike and Steve is really something that revolutionized the NBA,” Kerr said. “But you’re seeing all of these young guys coming up that have been inspired by Nash in the spread pick-and-roll stuff. By being duel threats and the ability to shoot from 3, he could penetrate and find people.”

After playing in only 65 out of a possible 164 regular-season games with the Lakers because of overlapping injuries to his back and hamstrings, Nash formally retired in 2015. The Warriors soon hired him the following fall on a part-time consulting basis. Nash lives in Manhattan Beach and mostly spends his time working for his movie company and as the general manager of the Canadian national team. But Nash travels to Oakland occasionally throughout the season to work with Warriors players. He often spends time with Curry and Kevin Durant on shooting drills. Then, Kerr often shares Nash his comparison to Curry.

“He laughs and agrees with us,” Kerr said. “Steve set the bar for a lot of these guys. It’s remarkable to think about his influence.”

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