On Sunday, October 22nd former Simon Fraser University guard, Jay Triano, was promoted to become the interim-head coach of the Phoenix Suns. One of the first people to reach out to the former Clan member was Canadian and BC basketball legend, Steve Nash.
Nash and Triano’s relationship began 25 years ago. Nash had just won the AAA BC Championship during his senior season while Triano was coaching at his alma mater and was tasked with recruiting the future two-time NBA MVP. Triano surprisingly told Nash to not to come to SFU and chase his dream of playing NCAA division 1 basketball.
During Nash’s visit to SFU, Triano and Nash were able to talk for 3 hours and discuss their own goals. At the very end of the visit Nash told Triano that he would not come play for him at SFU. Instead he said that he would play for him on the Canadian National Team as it was goal of his to play and goal of Triano’s to coach the team.
In 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, they both accomplished their goal and represented their country at the highest level.
Both individuals would go on to accomplish great things in their careers. Nash would be named to 8 All-Star teams, win back-to-back MVP awards and end his career 3rd on the all-time assist leaderboard. Triano, would go on to become the first Canadian-born head coach of the Toronto Raptors as well assistant coach for the Portland Trailblazers.
In 2012, Nash was named the General Manager of the Canadian National Team under 1 condition, Triano be named as the head coach.
“I had been let go from the Canadian team prior to that,” Triano said. “I was like this is going to be tough to do, but I did it. With the new leadership that he provided, I felt really comfortable back in the role.”
Now that Triano has been named the interim head coach of the very same organization where Nash established his legacy, it was only right that Nash be one of the first to congratulate his long time friend.
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