The Phoenix Suns notched their first win of the new season late Friday vs. the Trail Blazers, but the biggest event happened when play was stopped.
The Suns formally inducted two-time league MVP Steve Nash into the organization’s Ring of Honor during the game, a special recognition given to very influential executives, coaches and players throughout the club’s history.
Nash, who announced his retirement this March at 41 years old, was introduced at halftime by Charles Barkley before giving a 10-minute speech to the sold-out crowd at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Many marquee Suns officials and other stars and key stakeholders around the NBA immediately took to Twitter to congratulate Nash on his induction:
Sir Charles welcomes MV-Steve into the Ring of Honor. #NashROH pic.twitter.com/DLXoldcstA
— #WeArePHX (@Suns) October 31, 2015
Congrats to @SteveNash on being inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor last night!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 31, 2015
@SteveNash congratulations on being inducted into the ring of honor, I loved watching you play!
— Isiah Thomas (@iamisiahthomas) October 31, 2015
Big Congrats to my former teammate and one of the all time greats @SteveNash on going into the Phx Suns Ring of Honor! #1stBallot #MVP2
— Quentin Richardson (@QRich) October 31, 2015
RT @Suns: Thunder Dan congratulates @SteveNash on joining the Ring of Honor. #NashROH pic.twitter.com/gmzqaGA8lE
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) October 31, 2015
Nash, a future Hall of Famer, joins former Suns players Alvin Adams, Charles Barkley, Tom Chambers, Water Davis, Connie Hawkins, Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, Dick Van Arsdale and Paul Westphal as Ring of Honor members at the Phoenix arena.
Drafted by the Suns in 1996, Nash ranks third in games played, first in assists and seventh in points in Suns franchise history. He took the team to the Western Conference finals on three occasions.
Ben DuBose is a veteran sports reporter who has followed the Houston Rockets and the NBA since Hakeem Olajuwon was Akeem Olajuwon. He writes for both SheridanHoops and ClutchFans, an independent Rockets blog. You can follow him on Twitter.