All good things come to an end. And while the season finale of the ‘Mind The Game’ podcast appears to be just a momentary pause, fans will surely miss LeBron James and Steve Nash’s delightful discussions that soothe any basketball mind.
The episode was shot at the Fanatics Fest in New York, even inviting questions from the fans present. So when a fan asked the two basketball legends which player they would like to play with from an era previous to the one they were drafted, Nash shared who used to be his “hero”.
How Did Magic Johnson Inspire Steve Nash’s Point Guard Dreams?
“For me, being a point guard, Magic Johnson was — I mean, I remember just how he inspired me as a kid,” said the former Phoenix Suns guard. While many hail Johnson as arguably the greatest point guard in history, Nash also admitted to admiring one of Johnson’s arch rivals from his playing days.
“You know, I don’t know if I’d want to play with him, but my hero — the one person I tried to emulate — was Isiah Thomas. You know, a smaller guard who was just super competitive,” he said. Although it would’ve been fascinating to see Nash alongside Johnson or Thomas, it could be argued that Nash’s abilities would be best suited to pair with a star forward.
Going further back, Nash then stated the names of a few legendary bigs, who would have surely had a ball catching dimes from Nash if they ever did play together. “And then you go back — Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell — you could go forever. It’s hard for me to pick one,” said the two-time MVP.
What Makes Michael Jordan LeBron James’ Ultimate Fantasy Teammate?
After Nash stated his picks, it was James’ turn to answer the question. And while he admitted the answer could be twisted due to the narratives on social media, James said “nobody was more inspiring” to him than Michael Jordan. James further explained how Jordan’s flat-out scoring mentality would complement LeBron, who is an exceptional passer owing to his high basketball IQ.
The conversation continued as fans asked the duo more questions before finally drawing the curtain on the second season of ‘Mind The Game’. For James, the focus will likely shift towards his limited future in the league and his desire to stay competitive. So as his quest for a fifth championship ring goes on entering his 23rd NBA season, the offseason proves to be a pivotal one for the four-time MVP.
