Forgotten Steve Nash Teammate Became A Successful Author

After a failed NBA career, Paul Shirley, a former teammate of Steve Nash, found success as an author.

4 Min Read

Credit: Fadeaway World

  • Paul Shirley played alongside Steve Nash on the Phoenix Suns
  • Shirley played a total of just 18 games in his NBA career
  • Shirley is now a successful author

Steve Nash was a successful NBA player during the 2000s. His teammate on the Phoenix Suns during the 2004-05 season, Paul Shirley, certainly was not. 

Shirley played in just nine games with Nash and the Suns. In three seasons, Shirley played in just 18 games, averaging just 1.8 points per game.

Shirley’s NBA career is pretty forgettable, but the former Phoenix Sun has found success in another medium. Today, at the age of 45, Shirley has found success as an author.

Shirley has published nonfiction stories, like his first book, Can I Keep My Jersey? This is a memoir of Shirley’s journey in the NBA. He’s also written Stories I Tell On Dates, another memoir, this time on his entire adulthood. Stories I Tell On Dates has also been turned into a podcast.

Nonfiction isn’t all Shirley writes. He’s also written a few novels, including Ball Boy and David. The story Ball Boy is a story Shirley wrote that involves basketball, as the main character, Gray Taylor, finds basketball as his way to feel special.

Books aren’t all Shirley has written, either. The former Phoenix Sun has written for ESPN, The Wall Street Journal, and Esquire. There’s no doubt Paul Shirley has found success as a writer.


Paul Shirley’s Basketball Career

Paul Shirley played high school basketball at Jefferson West High School near Kansas. Shirley became a National Merit Finalist while in high school.

After high school, Shirley became a walk-on at Iowa State. He’d actually become a starter, averaging 10.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as a senior.

Shirley would earn three Academic All-Big 12 selections. Even with these achievements, Shirley was not drafted into the NBA. He made the league as an undrafted rookie, playing in two games with the Atlanta Hawks in the 2002-03 season.

Shirley would join Scottie Pippen in his last season on the Chicago Bulls the following season. This would last just seven games, and his NBA career would end after his nine games with the Suns in the 2004-05 season.

After the NBA, Shirley played a few years overseas. He played for the Panionios Athens of the Greek A1 League, UNICS Kazan of the Russian Super League, and for three teams in the Spanish ACB League.

Basketball might not have worked out for Shirley, but the fact he didn’t hang his head and found a new career is inspiring. Shirley’s story shows how hard it is not just to make the NBA but to stay in the league long enough to have a career.

This makes what players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant did, playing at a high level for 20 years, seem insane. As for his writing career, maybe Shirley will do something he couldn’t on an NBA court, and that’s to win a major award.

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Titan Frey is the editor-in-chief and a staff writer for Fadeaway World from York, Pennsylvania. Titan blends his deep passion for basketball and storytelling to oversee the content at Fadeaway World. A prolific writer, Titan has authored several novels, including the award-winning "Players Path." This experience has honed his ability to weave compelling narratives, a skill he applies to his editorial role, ensuring that every piece resonates with basketball lovers and maintains high journalistic standards. His passion for basketball was sparked by Michael Jordan's return to the NBA in 1995, and his allegiance to the Chicago Bulls often inspires his contributions to "Pippen Ain’t Easy," a website dedicated to Bulls-related content. Titan’s specialization in player biographies and retro basketball content allows him to offer unique insights, often reaching out to key sources to secure exclusive information not available elsewhere. One of Titan’s proudest achievements is the biography of Chuck Cooper, the first African American drafted by an NBA team. By collaborating directly with Chuck Cooper III, Titan was able to present a nuanced portrayal that enriched the basketball community’s understanding of Cooper’s impact on the sport. Titan also extends his storytelling prowess to his YouTube channel "HoopsHistory26", where he uses archived footage to bring historical basketball stories to life, engaging a broader audience with his vivid storytelling and authoritative content.Titan's bold predictions and memorable basketball moments also reflect his deep involvement in the sport. He boldly predicts that the Phoenix Suns will part ways with their Big 3 and focus on building around Kevin Durant. Among his cherished memories is attending the unforgettable 2004 game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers in Philly, where he witnessed Allen Iverson make his first career game-winning shot. These experiences and insights continue to enrich his contributions to Fadeaway World, connecting with readers on a deeply personal level.
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *