Tour 2018 special - Mauricio meets Steve Nash
Tue 24 July 2018, 19:44|
Tottenham Hotspur
Mauricio Pochettino welcomed Spurs fan and NBA legend Steve Nash to our first training session in Los Angeles on Monday.
A life-long Spurs fan whose father was born in Tottenham, Steve was a regular at White Hart Lane as a youngster with his father and granddad before his family moved to Canada. He had two spells with the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and finished an 18-season career at LA Lakers in 2014 having twice been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (the ‘MVP’ in 2005, 2006 with the Suns) and selected eight times for the NBA’s All-Star Game.
It was a meeting of sporting minds as the pair spoke during the session at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) – and then spoke to us afterwards.
We’re joined by friend of the Club, Spurs fan and basketball great Steve Nash...
Steve: “It’s great having you guys here with me instead of me going over to London! You are all welcome.”
How much have you enjoyed spending time with Mauricio?
Steve: “It’s always a pleasure for me not only just because he’s manager of my club, but also because I really respect the type of person he is, his methodology and the approach he has, how thoughtful and well-designed his set up is in every aspect. It’s not easy to come by. We’re lucky to have a manager like this and every time I get to speak to him I learn a lot.”
He was always an idol as a player and as a person, I’m very proud to know him and to share these moments
How does it feel when one of the all-time great sportsmen says such nice things about you?
Mauricio: “It’s a dream for me to share with him these types of moments. I can learn a lot from him and of course, I’m also lucky because Jesus (Perez, assistant manager) has managed the training session and I’ve spent all the time talking with Steve! It’s amazing because I’m a big fan of basketball, he was always an idol as a player and as a person, I’m very proud to know him and to share these moments that are so important.”
What sort of things have you been talking about? The final details of elite sport?
Steve: “You are always trying to find an advantage and always trying to make the pieces fit. It’s difficult and so the details are the difference between making those pieces fit and finding an advantage and not. Every situation is unique and has different parameters. So to hear how he makes this situation thrive...it’s always about details.”
And Mauricio, you will take those details into our matches against Roma, Barcelona and AC Milan here in the States...
Mauricio: “I’m looking forward to this Tour. We have a young squad and a lot of young players are going to gain experience. To prepare for the Premier League is so important and we wait for our World Cup players. Now, it’s about working and starting to feel the competition against big teams like Roma, Barcelona and AC Milan.”
As a Spurs fan, what was it like to see nine of our players in the semi-finals of the World Cup and our captain, Hugo Lloris, lift the trophy?
Steve: “It’s amazing. Obviously for Hugo, who has been such an incredible captain for us and a great man, to do that, you feel proud of him and proud that he represents our Club. To have nine players in the final four teams in the world is a testament to our Club and a testament to the manager who has taught those guys a lot, their games have risen under his tutelage. It’s a great time to be a fan of the Club and we’re lucky to have a manager who is improving the players at a real clip.”
Finally, how excited are you at the prospect of our new stadium?
Steve: “I can’t wait. All the fans of the Club are really excited. They will now get to watch in one of the best venues in the world and also the fact that it represents our Club and what it stands for, the level we want to attain, is a great symbol. I can’t wait to get over there.”
Steve Nash - NBA legend
2× NBA Most Valuable Player: 2005, 2006
8× NBA All-Star: 2002–2003, 2005–2008, 2010, 2012
7× All-NBA selection
2× NBA Skills Challenge winner: 2005, 2010
5× NBA regular season leader for assists per game
6× NBA regular season leader for total assists
2× NBA regular season leader for free-throw percentage
7× NBA regular season leader for assists per 48 minutes
