The uncertainty surrounding Steve Nash's career has been on the rise ever since he broke his leg last year. Now out once again with what could be severe nerve damage in his back and legs, Nash has been rumored to be considering taking medical retirement and calling it a career. Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni is denying any idea that the veteran is finished.
D'Antoni confirmed Tuesday night that Nash was not thinking about retirement, instead focused on a quick return after he was ruled out for at least two weeks with the nerve irritation. Despite being limited the last two seasons, the head coach says the point guard has no immediate plans to retire and is doing everything possible to get healthy by his expected return.
"He's 39, almost 40 years old. I think he's looking at, 'What am I going to do when I'm 50?' But no [he's not thinking of retiring]," D'Antoni said, ESPNLosAngeles.com. "Now, whether he can get over this, we'll see. We think he can. We hope he can. But there's no talk of him sitting over there eating bon bons the rest of the way. No."
Speculation has been running wild that Nash would take the medical retirement option. He has only played in six games this season which would allow him to retire, collect a pay check this season and then be wiped off the books for next year allowing the Lakers to save the salary cap space. Officially the oldest player in the league, Nash is owed $9.3 million this year and $9.7 million in 2014. The idea of calling it quits scares the point guard.
"I hesitate to even talk about it now because it's probably not a good time, I'm feeling a little emotional, but it's hard," Nash said. "I really want to play and I really want to play the way I'm accustomed to playing, and to be so limited is frustrating. And also to not know where a clean-ish bill of health is is a little daunting too."
Working on a return of his own, star Kobe Bryant has been in constant communication throughout the entire ordeal for Nash. Both players have worked their way back from serious injuries and the veteran says it has brought the two closer together.
"Steve and I have been extremely close through this process," Bryant said. "That's part of our job as teammates is to pick each other up and put them in position where he can still be extremely efficient and extremely successful."
If Nash does decide to end his career, Steve Blake will likely take over as the starting point guard. D'Antoni would not even address the possibility, instead staying focused on the health and return of Nash.
