Steve Nash made headlines when he decided to jump from the Phoenix Suns to the Los Angeles Lakers. This allowed the Lakers to create a mini super team of their own in order to compete with the Miami Heat come playoff time. The team has since put together a disappointing season and is in risk of not making the playoffs. Despite all of the difficulties, Nash says he does not regret a sign-and-trade deal that sent him to the Lakers this past offseason.
"Ten out of 10 times, I make the same decision again," Nash said.
Nash had multiple offers from teams. He was reportedly being pursued by the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors. Nash was hesitant about moving to an East Coast team due to where the rest of this family resides. With Nash staying out West, he is able to see his family and children who live in the Phoenix area.
Nash stresses that he is happy in Los Angeles. His agent, Bill Duffy, believes Nash would have considered retiring if he was going to be forced to sign with an East Coast team.
"If L.A. wouldn't have worked, I honestly think he would've considered retiring. He said that three or four times from July 1 to July 5, and I was saying, 'If he wants to retire, I have to respect it, but let's piece this thing together so you can get what you want and continue to play,'" Duffy said.
The Lakers are trailing the Houston Rockets by three games and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2004-05 season. Nash has spent most of the season adjusting to a lesser role with the team due other All-Stars, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard. His numbers have paled in comparison to what he used to do in Phenix. This season, Nash is averaging just 7.1 assists, his lowest since 1999-2000. In Phoenix, he averaged at least 11 assists in five of his eight seasons with the team.
"It's been different. It's been an adjustment. But I want to embrace these challenges. I'm at a stage of my career with a new club where I'm playing with Kobe--he's a great player--and finding that balance and accepting and embracing that opportunity is key. It'd be nice, in some ways, to have a bigger impact on the game. You have to balance it with all the guys, all their needs and personalities. I embrace it," Nash said.
Nash says that while it would be nice to be in Phoenix and have the ball in his hands on every play, he would be missing out on the playoffs and he believes there is more potential to do something great while in Los Angeles.
