Steve Nash once asked Jordan for his shoes as a rookie with the Suns

Once Nash found out he could ask Michael Jordan for his shoes, he wasted no time doing so during his first season in the NBA.

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Hall of Famer Michael Jordan was a global icon with the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s and was by far the most popular player in the NBA. His stardom traveled with him in opposing arenas as fans flocked to watch him play each night on the road.

That fame also carried over to some players at the time, too.

On Monday night, Steve Nash recalled a story in which he once asked Jordan for his shoes during his rookie season with the Phoenix Suns. Jordan was a player Nash looked up to and he was nearly starstruck to be facing him on the court.

As Nash explained to Ernie Johnson of Turner Sports, a veteran teammate of his asked Jordan for a pair of his shoes after facing the Bulls early in the 1996-97 season. The Suns played the Bulls twice in the first month that year so Nash figured he’d see if he could grab a pair for himself.

Two weeks later, they come to Phoenix and we play. … I got switched onto him, he backed me down into the post. He did his little shake and hit a fadeaway on me. We go down on the other end and someone gets fouled [and is] shooting a free throw. I’m standing there as the point guard behind the shooter and he comes over to me and he says, ‘You were at a slight disadvantage.’ As a rookie, it was like that moment where I was like, ‘Holy [expletive]. MJ just scored on me and is letting me have it in a fun way. This is unbelievable!’

All I can think of was Chucky Brown got his shoes. He tells me, ‘You’re at a slight disadvantage,’ and I turn and I laugh and I go, ‘Can I have your shoes after the game?’ Of course, sure enough, after the game, I got his shoes and all of that. I remember it just takes you back because as a guy who I hope proved was a fierce competitor my whole career, it takes you back to what kind of mindset I was in as a rookie with Michael Jordan and how that was all secondary to this hero I’m worshipping away.

With “The Last Dance” documentary airing each week, several NBA players, past and present, have offered their best M.J. stories. Nash faced Jordan several times over the years and even posted a memory playing him on Instagram prior to the debut of “The Last Dance” on April 19.

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