Steve Nash quotes:

I want my kids to have passion for life, to really have a passion for life. I think when you have a passion for something, you can overcome obstacles, if you float through life without having anything to hold on to or get you fired up emotionally and to focus on, I think it's really hard to overcome things.

I've spent half my life in gyms, if not more, and I love physical fitness and health; couple that with the fact that I love for people to be healthy, whether it's mentally, physically, or emotionally, and it's just a great opportunity for me to do something I love and have an impact on people's health.

I'm really passionate about things I enjoy, and I like to be out there doing things, and learning and challenging myself. So it's just more fun that way, just to get out and try and do and learn and meet people and try to do something new.

I am a huge believer in giving back and helping out in the community and the world. Think globally, act locally I suppose. I believe that the measure of a person's life is the affect they have on others.

My free time at home is usually spent emailing, listening to music, reading and talking on the phone. I wish I was on the phone less, but I have been fortunate to stay in touch with so many incredible friends.

I used to collect hockey cards. It was like Vegas at my school. You'd go to school with your box of cards, and at recess and lunchtime there were all these games we'd play.

The fans in Dallas were hard on me my first year, but after having a great year last year they are now supporting me. It feels great to have my hard work pay off, especially when the fans made it hard for me.

My best memories are because I was on teams I love - even going back to being a kid. Not just in the NBA.

I use a lot of balance training and functional training. Basically it's where you add an element of instability to a regular exercise. So whether it's on the physioball or the Bosu ball or just balancing on one leg, I try to incorporate an instable plane and/or movement to the exercise, so the body's doing two or more movements.

In the preseason, in the month of October, I work out almost every day, lifting weights for 20 or 30 minutes, and then during the season I usually lift weights twice a week, sometimes a little more.

There are so many different ways to lead. The most important thing is to be genuine. To have people around you trust you, trust in what you stand for and who you are. And I think that if people watch you day in and day out and believe in your motives and they believe that you set a high standard for yourself.

People have always doubted whether I was good enough to play this game at this level. I thought I was, and I thought I could be. What other people thought was really always irrelevant to me.

We've been playing ugly. Without all of our bodies, we've been kicking it all over the shop, but fortunately we've been able to make the big buckets and rely on our defense for once.

My father was a soccer player. All my friends played basketball though, so I stuck with basketball.

Once you have been through a certain amount of things in life, you definitely grow more comfortable with yourself. To persevere and hang in there and believe in yourself.

You should be able to voice your opinion and respect the voice of the other side. You should be willing to educate yourself and know what it is you're dealing with.

The NBA has the best point guards in the world, so it is important that I come ready to play every night.

Leadership is possible in all different ways, and in all different areas of life. Whether it is with friends or family, I expect them to set a great example for me, and hopefully I will do the same for them. And that is all part of being a leader.

I don't care what other people say. I fight every day to be the best player I can.

Nothing is black-and-white, except for winning and losing, and maybe that's why people gravitate to that so much.

I've always wanted to shoot a good percentage for my team, because I'm the point guard, and I can take fewer shots, still score more, so that I can get my teammates feeling good about themselves. That was always my feeling - that if I shoot a high percentage, I don't have to shoot a ton.

I think you can get too focused on the championship and forget how rewarding it is to be part of a team.

I realize that although I'd like to make films as a career after I'm done playing, I really love basketball; I really love my career, an opportunity to compete every day and to push myself physically, mentally and emotionally.

I had role models in my community, guys that were older than me and played at university or on the national team. Eli Pasquale was always around UVic when I was a young player, and the national team was around Victoria a little bit, so I got to watch those guys and learn from them.

My parents are from north London, and so it's not like I'm some Yank who wants to make a profit out of football. I don't care about making money. I just want to see Spurs succeed and, if I can help, that's great.

You have to rely on your preparation. You got to really be passionate and try to prepare more than anyone else, and put yourself in a position to succeed, and when the moment comes you got to enjoy, relax, breathe and rely on your preparation so that you can perform and not be anxious or filled with doubt.

What happened in the past is just that, the past. Champion or not.

I try to go with the flow, and I feel pretty comfortable with who I am. I feel courageous enough to go outside myself and try something new, like everything in life.

I usually settle into a routine during the season where I shoot for about 15 or 20 minutes before and after practice, and then do the whole practice.

Whether it is with friends or family, I expect them to set a great example for me, and hopefully I will do the same for them. And that is all part of being a leader.

You know, once you have been through a certain amount of things in life, you definitely grow more comfortable with yourself.

My agility is the CEO of the United Global Agility Corporation

Our centers spread the floor, shoot the three and block shots. We can play pick and pop.

The crowd gives us so much energy and we are able to really feed off of it. Hitting those shots and having the crowd go crazy helps boost our confidence. We love our fans.

It's important for us, if we're going to be a good team, to be a good defensive team in the fourth quarter.

My closest friends in the league are Dirk Nowitzki and Rex Chapman. Although I think Michael Finley and I will be friends forever.

It seems like my whole life I've been this little Canadian kid dreaming somebody would give me a chance.

It feels great to have my hard work pay off, especially when the fans made it hard for me.

I have to say I've worked very few days of my life. I used to have to cut the lawn, and when I was in junior high school, I worked at a concession stand at a stadium.

Well, my favorite band is Radiohead. But, you know, I am pretty fascinated in general with music. I love music. It is definitely an interest.

We were excited to win, staying undefeated is just the icing.

I don't think coaches should have to wear mic's. It is an invasion of privacy. We are trying to accomplish things, and wearing microphones may hinder development by straining the nature of relationships coaches and players have.

I love basketball and I'm committed to it, but if I have to lock up my spirit because of basketball, it ain't worth it.

I think it was wishful thinking of me to dream of being an NBA player. And once I made the NBA I dreamed of being an All-Star, but I never dreamed of being an MVP.

Truth is, I'm a bit old school. For me, it would be hard to put on a Lakers jersey. That's just the way it is.

The playoffs are the playoffs. You just play who is put in front of you.

Sometimes I'm very impatient. I also feel the need to please everyone, which is unnecessary and impossible.

Basketball isn't as popular in Canada as it is in the US. Hockey is by far the most popular sport in Canada.

My best move is probably my pull up jump shot.

I'm playing; I'm here. I'm going to fight until they tell me they don't want me anymore.

We play a different style than other teams. It's effective, but different. We run the floor, block shots and create turnovers.

I have definitely gone through my ups and downs and faced my adversity and my nay-sayers, but managed to do all right. It is a pretty classic tale.

When you play with Kobe Bryant, the ball is gonna be with him most of the time, which is understandable.

Anytime you play a finalist it's going to be a challenge.

My ideal day would be to get a good work out in, listen to music, talk to my family and friends on the phone, read and go to a good movie.

Play because it's fun, and not to become a pro. If your goal is to become pro, the best way to realize that is by loving what you do.

I've been lucky enough to play on NBA teams I really enjoy, teams where I've liked everybody and had fun, and had that college kind of experience with an NBA team. When you have that, and I don't know that everyone does, but when I've had it, that's what it's all about.

Besides P.E., geography was my best class in high school. I was in this gifted class when I was younger, and it was wicked!

For the most part I try to just stay focused not on my play but on our team.

Having a goal in your mind helps you manifest it in some way.

I am not too accusatorial or defensive by nature. I have always been kind of philosophical about it, remembering that it is just a game. People take these things too seriously.

I am thrilled to be an Olympian, and I think that although we will be underdogs we can beat many teams and will be a surprise in Sydney.

I believe that the measure of a person's life is the affect they have on others.

I feel very comfortable going at full speed.

I have a tendency, especially when I'm playing with great players, to try and get them the ball.

I have as much fun as anybody I know.

I hope my kids learn to put themselves first.

I know that to be a good player, you have to stay healthy, and you have to be as athletic as you can possibly be.

I know the strengths and weaknesses of my teammates. I make my passing decisions accordingly

I know what I can do and what I'm able to accomplish.

I learned at a young age to dribble with both hands, and that allows me to be more creative when I go against bigger and stronger opponents.

I lick my fingers because I don't like when my hands get slick. Licking my fingers helps me keep a good grip on the ball.

I love being part of a team, any team. Not just playing, but the camaraderie, the whole thing. It's just what I get off on.

I really don't care about the response to my hair this is just how my hair is. I don't take care of it, or comb it, or put anything in it, or style it or anything. When people comment on it, it is funny to me that it draws such attention. It makes me realize how insignificant that sort of thing is.

I simply want to be remembered as a great competitor and a great teammate.

I think it's important that people stand up for what they believe in. It's important that people discuss things.

I try to only worry about things I have control over.

I was never supposed to play in college, let alone the NBA, so I always feel like I have something to prove. No one ever expected me to be here, so that feeling of being an underdog is ingrained in me. It's a natural part of my consciousness.

I'd love to go somewhere warm, somewhere near the beach and somewhere with a cool culture. It could be Hawaii, Cuba, South America - anywhere that has a cool culture and a beautiful climate.

If every basketball player worked as hard as I did, I'd be out of a job

I'm not going to retire because I want the money. We want honest athletes, but at the same time, you're going to have people saying, 'He's so greedy. He's made X amount of money, and he has to take that last little bit.' Yes, I do have to take that last little bit. I'm sorry if that is frustrating to some, but if they were in my shoes, they would do exactly the same thing.

Its crazy! I'm watching Linsanity hoping every shot goes in. Hope I never grow up.

My approach has been that a player with determination and a willingness to work harder than anyone else can accomplish anything. It's a simple formula. I've found it works.

My goal is to eliminate positions where I can't function.

Sometimes it's difficult maintaining my friendships, but to me, it's well worth it.

That's the key to our team. We have so many weapons. You can just pick your poison.

The guys that improve every year are those that are always adding something to their game.

The person who's had the biggest impact on my career is Rick Celebrini, the physiotherapist.

The pick and roll is more about bodies and eyes then speed and being fast

The toughest opponents to defend are Iverson, Marbury and Payton. They are all very talented and can shoot at anytime from anywhere.

We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.

We've got very few bodies right now so we were tired, but we've also got a lot of character and we want to win.

When I think of my career, I can't help but think of the kid with his ball, falling in love.

You can't worry about things you have no control over.

You have good games, you have bad games. You have good years, you have bad years. I have always been kind of philosophical about that.

You should always want your coach to be critical. It gives you an opportunity to learn and to overcome adversity