When Steve Konchalski took over as Canada Basketball senior men’s head coach in 1995, there were plenty of decisions to make.
While watching game film of potential players for his roster, including action from the 1994 FIBA World Championship in Toronto, the veteran head coach of the St. F.X. X-Men knew he found his starting point guard.
“It was pretty obvious that he would be the key to our future,” Konchalski said of Steve Nash.
He added that decision was cemented after their first conversation, noting Nash’s leadership, self-confidence and team-first approach attributes.
“It is what we needed,” Konchalski said.
He noted Nash “never had a sense of superiority,” when he was part of the national team, adding he was always “just one of the guys.”
“He was so down-to-earth and such a humble man,” Konchalski said, noting that hasn’t changed, even with Nash’s “unbelievable achievements” in the sport, since then, including the two-time NBA most valuable player’s Sept. 7 enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Amongst his myriad talents – ones that he displayed on the international and professional basketball stages – was his “hall of fame attitude,” according to the long-time basketball mentor.
“It tells more than anything,” Konchalski said, as he started to tell his “favourite” story about Nash.
During his rookie year in the NBA, he remembered Nash had not played in 10 to 15 games.
“He didn’t see the floor,” Konchalski said.
He noted there was “good reason” that has been the case, considering Nash was playing behind perennial all-star Kevin Johnson and rising star Jason Kidd who, coincidentally, is also a member of the 2018 hall of fame class.
When he readied to touch base with Nash in February, Konchalski thought he would be speaking to a disheartened player.
“Steve said everything was great. He talked about having the opportunity to play with two of the best point guards in the game,” Konchalski said, noting Nash said practices served as his games.
He added Nash knew that he had a responsibility to be ready and ‘challenge them.’
Konchalski described Nash’s induction speech, particularly its final minutes, as “pretty amazing.”
He noted his message was a great one, particularly for young players, about making the commitment “to doing something you love to do.”
“You will never be more alive than when you give something, everything you have,” he said, in paraphrasing part of Nash’s message.
When asked if he envisioned the heights his career reached, Konchalski said “no.”
“No one would have, even Steve,” he added, with a laugh.
Nash validated that thought in his induction remarks.
“I was never, ever, supposed to be here,” he said.
Konchalski takes “great pride” in his former player’s enshrinement.
“I am happy to have had the opportunity to contribute to his development in some way,” he said.
