STEVE NASH

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

My best move is probably my pull up jump shot.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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 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.