More impactful Canadian baller all-time Nash or SGA?

[Quattro]

Shai may end up being better i suppose but hrs never going to approach Nash when it comes to sheer entertainment value. Nobody has ever come close to being as fun to watch as Nash for me.

[Yeezus_]

I think once Shai leads Canada to a medal in the Olympics he’ll be the more impactful player.

[Rapsalot]

Beginning of the year Nash. Now Tied? Soon SGA

[James_Raptors]

Impact is something that is gauged over time. Just like we had current NBA players who got involved with Hoops because of Steve Nash (or in Canada chose basketball over hockey). Or kids who grew up (in Canada and elsewhere) who were inspired to pick up a basketball after watching Vince Carter doing his thing with the Raptors.

If the argument was who is/was the better player, that's certainly Shai.
But the long-term impact will need 10-20 years to really feel it's affects.
Heck, there could be newborns out there with huge Shai/Canadian fans as parents. What does that look like 15-20 years from now?
Will we hear stories years from now, on Draft Day about <x player> picked up a basketball after watching Shai dominate in 2025.

The the TLDR is "TBD" but currently still Nash.

[kalel123]

Kinda silly question to ask and compare two guys that are almost on the opposite end of spectrum in terms of where their careers are. One is done and the other is just hitting his stride so not even a fair question. I'd say SGA will surpass Nash by a mile by the time he's done especially if he plays in one more Olympics and maybe even win a medal. But even without that, he's already got a ring and FMVP on top of regular season MVP and he's not even half done in terms of his career barring injury.

One advantage Nash does have is scarcity of NBA players when he came on the scene. So he might have had bigger impact early on but winning MVP, championship, Finals MVP, scoring title, etc. in the same season is something special. That's historic for the entire league history not just Canadian basketball. So that's something that will be felt and appreciated for a long time.

[EastonEddy]

It's kinda similar to the Carter argument where Nash didn't have the career accomplishments (in terms of winning a ring) but had a great impact on basketball culture in Canada.

When Nash won MVP it was more impactful because we simply didn't have the same Canadian representation we do today in the NBA so it was a big deal. Also Nash kinda came out of nowhere to win it later in his career so it was a big surprise.

I'm sure SGAs impact will eventually surpass Nash he's still so young.

[Airmiess]

Nash (and D'Antoni) changed the way the game is played. The pace of today's NBA is a direct result of that team, which Nash's play style made possible. Shai is definitely a more talented scorer and may have a better career, but it is hard to see him transforming the league.

One of the smallest markets just won a title. The league has transformed overnight.

Owners of non-select teams know they don't have to be farm teams anymore. They will zero in on character guys like SGA.

That happened before this title. There have been 7 different champions in 7 straight year since the Raptors broke the seal.

Raptors and Denver kicked the door in a bit, but OKC is a different circumstance. Only one real vet..average age 26 or so.

[ontnut]

I think you also need to clarify...impactful for who? Canadians? Americans? The NBA? Basketball as a whole?

But either way I think it's still Nash.
He's had more impact on Canada basketball on an international stage, and at home, so far. Shai hasn't really dont much for Canada basketball, and hasn't been around long enough to develop the same level of national or international fan base/support that Nash had during his run.

For the NBA: Nash and the Suns' SSOL offense, plus more shooting of 3's than average teams of the time, not always playing a traditional C, and being switchable on defense, is the basis for offenses and defenses of today. They were groundbreaking at the time. As a PG he was the posterboy for efficiency, not volume, and was an advanced stats darling. He was the first unathletic little

Spoiler:

(and white)

guy to win MVPs since...well...before integration?

For players: Nash is the reason Amar'e became STAT and a MVP/All-NBA candidate, and not some regular ol' rim running big. Marion actually managed to hit 3p% at a 33%+ rate with Nash feeding him completely open looks. He basically stopped taking, and making, 3's after leaving PHX. Shai is a great player but I don't think he's had that level of impact on his teammates yet, outside of obviously being a Harden-esque heliocentric offensive piece. I think Chet would still be Chet, and Jdub would still do his thing, without SGA. Caruso and IHart just play the role they did before. Maybe he's elevated Dort/Wallace? I dno. Maybe. But I think Dort was still projected to be solid 3+D. Wallace I would've had more reservations about.

I think SGA gets there eventually. He'll need to have a showout or two on the international stage and be a posterchild for Team Canada. I don't think his game itself will be transformative at the NBA level, because we've seen a lot of what he does already - he just does it better than the guys before. He's not different in the way Giannis or Jokic or Lebron or Nash are/were. He's kinda like a PG Kobe for the modern era.

[Hero]

In terms of peak it's obviously SGA. Plus if he keeps up this level for another couple years then obviously also him in terms of total impact.

[Tor_Raps]

Not fair to compare all time when Shai's like half the age. SGA is obviously already the more accomplished player but you need more time to be more impactful.

[raptoradical]

Just last night was like the first time of SGA adding in his game what Nash did every night

[Raps in 4]

SGA, easily.

If we're talking "impact", Shai's impact metrics this season were historic. Nash never had a season this good in his career.

[C Court]

I voted Nash, but feel like that will change sooner than later.

[Jakay]

If we were comparing age 26 to ge 26 it's no contest Shai. If he can keep it up by age 30 he'll eek out Nash's entire career.

Impact though... Nash was instrumental in changing how the game was played. Perhaps the most instrumental in terms of the run and gun spacing. That's something. Everyone's offense sped up after 7 seconds or less.

Shais could help bring the mid range back into fashion though.

[dTox]

The guy with the title and better stats

[T-d0t]

Just give it time and Shai will be more impactful( I assume you mean culturally in Canada). At 26 Nash wasn't even an all star yet.

[dkb964]

Nash was not even born in Canada.

Youre right. He came to Canada when he was 18 months old so clearly hes South African

i am just stating a fact. I get what you are saying. SGA was born in Canada though. To me that matters.

[canada_dry]

Nash changed the game. Thats impact.

So not yet on that front. Peak for peak sure, you give it to SGA.

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[greekman]

didn't have to beg sga to play for canada.

[SharoneWright]

Eli Pasquale.