Los Angeles Lakers point guard and Canadian basketball star Steve Nash announced his retirement on Saturday at the age of 41.
Nash announced his retirement in an article he wrote for The Players' Tribune website on Saturday, posting a link to his Twitter feed.
"I'm retiring," he wrote. "I already miss the game deeply, but I'm also really excited to learn to do something else."
Nash played 18 seasons in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers organizations. He is an eight-time NBA All-Star and a two-time recipient of the league's award for most valuable player. He also won the 2005 Lou Marsh Award as Canada's most outstanding male athlete, and represented his country twice at the Olympic Games.
"Representing Canada in the Olympics was the best experience of my career," he said in the article.
Nash said last year that the 2014-15 NBA season would be his last, but a pre-season back injury kept him from playing any regular season games for the Lakers.
In 2012, he was named the general manager for Canada's senior men's basketball team ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
Tributes poured in on social media after the two-time MVP made the announcement on Saturday afternoon.
Among them were some of Nash's former competitors, who were given the tough task of guarding the sweet-shooting and slick-passing point guard.
Unbelievable career @SteveNash. Glad I had a chance to play against you. It was an honor & pleasure! Enjoy the rest. pic.twitter.com/1kQUx03hNa
— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) March 21, 2015
S/o to @SteveNash hanging it up for good! Inspired me to play the way I do and paved the way. Congrats on all your success and enjoy life!
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) March 21, 2015
Manu Ginobili -- who was on the San Antonio Spurs squad that ended, perhaps, Nash's best shot at an NBA title when they eliminated the Suns from the 2007 Western Conference Finals -- also praised him for his "amazing career."
Congrats @SteveNash on an amazing career. It was a pleasure to compete against you so many times. Enjoy!
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) March 21, 2015
Some of Nash's former teammates also thanked him sharing his knowledge of the game and all the good times spent together.
It was an honor to play with you @SteveNash and I'm proud to have you as a friend! Thanks for what you taught me. #2xMVP #Legend
— Boris Diaw (@theborisdiaw) March 21, 2015
To my friend and former teammate @SteveNash, enjoy retirement you've had an unbelievable career.
— Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15) March 21, 2015
Congrats @SteveNash for all you've done for the game of bball..It was worth fighting to resume my career to have the chance to play with you
— grant hill (@realgranthill33) March 21, 2015
Nash also laid the foundation for a generation of young up-and-coming Canadian basketball stars, who used Twitter to thank him on Saturday.
Thank u to my big bro @SteveNash for being such an inspiration to Canadian basketball hopefuls like myself.Congratulations on you retirement
— Tristan Thompson (@RealTristan13) March 21, 2015
@SteveNash you will be missed my man. Congrats on a legendary career!
— Nik Stauskas (@NStauskas11) March 21, 2015
@SteveNash transformed basketball! Congrats on a heck of a career, you're gonna be missed #Nashty #CanBall
— Kevin Pangos (@KPangos) March 21, 2015
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also congratulated Nash on his "incredible career."
There has never been a better Canadian basketball player than @SteveNash. Congratulations on an incredible career. pic.twitter.com/x1cqZ8YPM3
— Stephen Harper (@pmharper) March 21, 2015
