Nov 5, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash (10) smiles to the crowd during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
“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.”
In a perfect world this situation never occurs to Steve Nash. He rides into the basketball Hall of Fame, a resume unstained of injury and the lasting memory being how elegant and surgical Nash was at the point guard position. One of the best we’ve ever seen.
Instead, Nash walking away gracefully is something father time to implement in his busy schedule. Since being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, the fun that was supposed to be has turned into visible pain. According to multiple reports, Nash will once again be sidelined with a injury, this time due to nerve irritation that will cause the 17 year veteran to miss two weeks.
There has been nothing from Nash or his camp on the subject, but retirement is what all fans wish for the guard. Of course there are about 9 million reasons why he’ll be back next season. To watch him go through this agony is a terrible feeling. Every move he makes you can see the pain he’s going through. The best comparison for Nash is Mike Miller. Even in Memphis he’s cringe-worthy to watch with every bump and fall looking as it it’s the one to sideline him permanently. That’s how it feels to watch Nash.
With the evolution of the point guard position, far removed from when Nash’s inaugural season in the NBA, it makes it harder for him to be a productive guard. In no way possible can he keep up with the Russell Westbrook‘s, Derrick Rose‘s and Eric Bledsoe‘s of the NBA. These guys are pushing him closer and closer to the edge of extinction.
When the time comes, Nash will return to the floor. He feels like he can contribute — which is a different story for a different day — and will play out his commitments until he’s free to leave.
I just hope he gets to walk away from the game at his own will.
Other Notable Injuries
- Recently extended Milwaukee Bucks big man LARRY SANDERS! is out for at least six weeks due to tearing a ligament in his thumb. Usually injuries are looked at as casual accidents that result from play on the basketball court, but the Bucks higher ups can’t be happy with Sanders on this one. According to the team, Sanders injury stemmed from an off the court incident which was reportedly a fight at a bar. The injury will keep Sanders out until Christmas. In three games played this season, Larry has struggled out the gates, averaging a career low 2.7 points and3.7 rebounds. Zaza Pachulia will replace him in the starting lineup. In
- Sanders isn’t the only Bucks player that will miss significant time due to an injury. Before getting to play a minute this season, Carlos Delfino will be forced to miss the entire season due to a setback in the recovery from a foot injury suffered last playoffs during his time with the Houston Rockets. The Bucks signed Delfino to a two-year deal worth $6.5 million this past summer.
- A stress reaction in the left tibia will sideline Golden State Warriors guard Toney Douglas for two weeks. This Warriors bench has struggled and the loss of Douglas is another blow. Going forward Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala probably get more minutes at point guard.
- Javale McGee of the Denver Nuggets is out indefinitely with a leg injury. The downward spiral of the Nuggets has been a fascinating subject. You think they regret trading Kosta Koufos for a poor man’s Kenneth Faried in Darrell Arthur? Oh well, that fan base will love the J.J. Hickson at center era.
- Reserve forward Quincy Pondexter will miss time after breaking his nose against the Indiana Pacers. The Memphis Grizzlies already don’t have many shooters (though Pondexter has been borderline terrible this year), so this one will hurt. No timetable has been set for his return.