WORDS CANT EVEN EXPRESS HOW UPSET I AM AT THIS POINT WITH THE LAKERS !
Nash is expected to be ruled out for the 2014-15 NBA season because of recurring nerve damage in his back, according to league sources.
The LA Lakers confirmed the news Thursday evening.
Nash, 40, had said he expects this 19th NBA season to be his final one. But he has not announced his retirement. Nash has not stated an intention of playing for a team away from Los Angeles and his children, saying in March that he would be done if the Lakers used their stretch provision to cut him for salary-cap savings: “That would be it. I’ll either be back here or I’ll be done.”
Now, Nash might try to dream anew of more rest for a full year and one more shot. But his body has simply told him that it isn’t up to playing in the NBA, as much as his words have been telling people that he still loves playing and believes he can contribute if allowed.
Nash hurt himself last season getting out of bed. A week ago, he hurt himself carrying his bags.
He has continued to search for a way to shake the nerve issues—undertaking fanatical strengthening workouts at times and resting at others.
This is, at heart, the same person who decided he didn’t want to sit out as a teenager, got a buddy to help him cut a cast off his broken arm and played in his league basketball game that night.
He has also acknowledged wanting to collect the $9.7 million due to him for the 2014-15 season.
But Nash’s decision Thursday is confirmation of how little ground he is gaining so far away from his youth with an uphill battle this steep.
Nash was selected an All-Star by the league’s coaches as recently as 2012—the only other All-Stars aged 38 or older are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Michael Jordan—prompting the Lakers to jump at the chance to land him that summer.