The Los Angeles Lakers are aware that Steve Nash is a far cry from the player he once was. The 39-year-old is coming off a season that was hampered by several injuries, but has yet to appear healthy to start 2013. Nash will now be seeing a specialist following a back injury and risks getting shut down for the season or possibly his career.
Nash has left the last two games early following pain in his back that is also causing problems with his hamstring. According to Nash, this all stems from the broken leg that he suffered last season which could possibly be causing a lot of nerve issues. Nash detailed the injury saying he has been suffering from it for a while now and was simply too painful to play through the past few games. The two-time MVP tried epidurals to ease the pain, but now he will see a specialist to try and get more help.
"I'm trying to play through it but at the same time be smart and try to overcome what I can and see," said Nash, via the Los Angeles Times. "But it's taken a bit of a turn for the worse."
So far this season when Nash is on the court, he is shooting just 6.7 points per game and 4.8 assists while shooting just 26.1 percent from the field. This is an issue considering Nash is owed $9.7 million is 2014-15 as one of two players under contract past this year for the Lakers.
Head coach Mike D'Antoni admits that he is very concerned about the future of Nash, not just with the Lakers but in basketball in general.
"I'm concerned," D'Antoni said. "He was struggling physically tonight. You could just see it on his face. That's why I took him out and we shut him down, more or less. I just see his face. I've known him forever, and when he looks like that, he's trying to battle through something and just couldn't do it."
Fellow teammates see the struggles of Nash and compliment him for his effort and sacrifice he is giving to the team. Many are aware that if Nash is shut down for the season, he might never return to the court again given his age. Center Pau Gasol is certainly hoping that Nash can make a big comeback, simply because he deserves it.
"It's upsetting that he's going through this type of injury again," Gasol said. "I'm concerned because he's my teammate. He's a guy that can really help us because we need guys that can create shots for other people and make it easy for other guys. He's a great playmaker, but unfortunately, if you're not healthy, no matter who you are, you're not going to be able to do what you do."
