Two-time MVP Steve Nash, 41, might be newly retired but he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
I had the honor to attend former NBA star’s annual charity soccer showdown this past Wednesday at Sara D. Roosevelt park in the Lower East Side of NYC. The fun-filled sporting event featured pro soccer players and NBA stars in a competitive/friendly soccer game to benefit the Steve Nash Foundation’s programs for undeserved children.
NBA players included Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew “Delly” Dellavedova, Luol Deng (Miami Heat) and Hall of Famer Chris Mullen.
Check out the entire game roster below:
Team World [Black]: Steve Nash (Two-time NBA MVP), Simone Sandri (Showdown Co-Founder), Alessandro Del Piero (Italy’s World Cup star), Luol Deng (Miami Heat), Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers), Roman Neustadter (FC Shalke 04), Massimo Gobbi (A.C. Parma), John Nash, Enrico Zanus, Giovanni Bartocci.
Team America [White]: Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina), Kyle Martino (MLS Soccer Analyst), Geoff Cameron (U.S. Men’s National Team & Stoke City), Jay DeMerit (Former U.S. National Team), Jeff Matteo (Assistant Coach St. John’s Basketball), Richie Williams, Chris Mullin (NBA Hall of Famer & Head Coach of St. John’s Basketball), Marc Stein (ESPN’s Soccer Today), Mike Quarino.
Prior to the start of the game, I had the opportunity to chat one-on-one with Matthew Dellavedova, the fiesty, overnight celeberity who played his heart out as Lebron James’ sidekick in the 2015 NBA Finals. I briefly spoke with Delly about his soccer skills, and how he was felt after his bittersweet playoff run with the Cavaliers.




NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullen


Miami Heat forward Luol Deng

Matthew Dellavedova


Photos and video by Mike Law