Phoenix Suns’ guard Steve Nash has become one of the great sports icons of both the state of Arizona and the NBA as a whole.  While Nash’s college and professional accomplishments have all taken place in the United States, his standing in his native Canada is in a strata reserved for very few athletes. 

This love and admiration was on full display during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic opening ceremonies. Nash was chosen to be one of the Canadian greats to carry the Olympic torch and light the cauldron.

Nash was also awarded the highly prestigious Order of Canada, by the Canadian government and was given a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto.

The two-time NBA MVP was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.  His family would soon relocate to Canada, eventually settling in Victoria, British Columbia.   Nash honed much of his basketball and soccer skills at the nearby University of Victoria.

Last fall, the university chose to award Nash an honorary doctorate in recognition of his athletic and charitable endeavors. Below is a piece of video showing the fan reaction to Nash’s presence on campus and his devotion to the people of his hometown.