Steve Nash to head up national team
Posted May 8, 2012 12:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, ON (NEWS1130) – Canada’s national men’s basketball program is now run by the country’s biggest basketball star.
Victoria’s Steve Nash has been named general manager of the Canadian senior men’s team, which last made the Olympic Games when Nash played for his country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
“Playing in the Olympics for Canada was the greatest experience of my career,” says Nash, who helped Canada to a seventh-place finish in Sydney.
The men’s team has been without a head coach since Leo Rautins resigned in September following Canada’s disappointing performance at the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament.
The 38-year-old Nash is a two time NBA MVP, a veteran of 16 pro seasons, and a free agent this summer. He’s spent the past six season with the Phoenix Suns.
He says that because he is still playing full-time he can’t do it alone and says that his first job will be to find a coach. Nash adds that if former Canadian and Toronto Raptors head coach Jay Triano, who coached the 2000 team is interested, he would be an important candidate.
Rowan Barrett was also hired to serve as Nash’s assistant general manager.
Canada will play in a last-chance Olympic qualifying tournament next month in Turkey.
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