#FlashbackFriday Steve Nash signs 13 years ago today

13 years ago today, number 13, Steve Nash, signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns after a six-year stint with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Suns were coming off of a 29-53 season, one of their worst records in franchise history, culminated by the trading of Stephon Marbury and Anfernee Hardaway to the New York Knicks, and the firing of Head Coach Frank Johnson. Assistant Mike D’Antoni replaced Johnson, but lacked the point guard catalyst to make his preferred fast paced offense roll.

In came Steve Nash.

“This team is definitely going to be a playoff team,” Nash said in his introductory press conference. “From there, the potential is limitless.”

Even with such a positive pronouncement, the Arizona Republic paid little attention to the press conference and such suddenly reknewed expectations. Nothing on the front page of the paper referenced the conference, and outside of a tiny inset on the front of the sports section (next to a full column discussing the official announcement of Shaquille O’Neal), the story was slid all the way to page 12.

Although Valley of the Suns fans may not have expected it, the potential of the team was limitless. Phoenix signed shooting guard Quinton Richardson to a six-year deal and produced a starting lineup that was one of the most potent in NBA history.

As we all recall, the Suns would go on to tie their franchise record for wins in a season with 62, ultimately falling to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.

Nash won his first MVP that season, becoming the second player in franchise history to win the award after Charles Barkley in 1993.

The Suns re-tooled in the offseason, losing Joe Johnson to the Atlanta Hawks, trading Richardson to New York, while signing free agent Raja Bell. And although Amar’e Stoudemire missed all but a handful of games due to micro fracture surgery, the Suns still managed to make a run to the Conference Finals for the second straight year, this time losing to the eventual Champion, Dallas Mavericks.

Nash won his second MVP award, and although the sting of falling in the Conference Finals for the second consecutive year was a very difficult to rebound from, the Suns would receive Amar’e Stoudemire back from injury. This served as the equivalent of a trade, and Nash led Phoenix to another 60+ win season, with expectations of a Championship run back in Phoenix.

Alas, it was not meant to be.

Midway through the 2007-08 season, the Suns dealt Shawn Marion for Shaquille O’Neal. For a season and a half Nash and Shaq were unable to pull Phoenix over the top, and as the aging core began to be pulled apart, Nash’s talents were beginning to be wasted.

With Mike D’Antoni now off in New York, the Suns hired Terry Porter to create a greater defensive mentality, but at the same time he slowed the offense down considerably, nearly muting his most important and skill-set – his speed and court vision.

Fortunately, the Terry Porter experiement was short-lived and he was relieved of his duties at the 2008 All-Star Break. With the promotion of Alvin Gentry to Head Coach, he immediately took the chains off of Nash’s game and released Nashty back into the wild.

The Suns would miss the playoffs in 2008, but the following season, after trading Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team found it’s stride once again, winning 54 games, and for the third time in the new Steve Nash era, earned a return to the Western Conference Finals.

More from Valley of the Suns

Following a tough first round series against the Portland Trailblazers, the Suns swept their old nemesis, the San Antonio Spurs. As it would happen, the Los Angeles Lakers prevailed in the Conference Finals, as helped by a non-call on a Kobe Bryant foot out of bounds in game five.

That offseason Amare Stoudemire would walk to New York, and the Suns decided to hold onto Steve Nash rather than trade him. Nash would play an additional two seasons, even leading the league in assists the following year without Stoudemire, the fifth time in his career, all since re-joining the Suns.

Following an eighth and final All-Star season in 2011-12, Nash was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, ending an era that started 13 years ago today.

Nash ended his tenure with the Suns as the franchise leader in three-point field goals made and attempted, as well as shooting percentage. He is also leads the franchise in assists (finishing just three short of 7,000), free throw percentage, and turnovers.

13 years ago today the Phoenix Suns made the most important free agency signing in franchise history. Bringing home a former player, Steve Nash not only revitalized the team and it’s home City, but the game of NBA basketball as well.

It’s difficult to argue this. And while hindsight is 20/20 making this a little sad, it’s pretty interesting.