Steve Nash/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers

Like so many, Clippers coach Doc Rivers had some interesting thoughts upon hearing that Lakers point guard Steve Nash is out for the season, at 40 years of age likely ending Nash’s brilliant career.

“I mean, he’s one of the best,” Rivers said Friday night before his team lost to Portland at Staples Center. “He reminds me a lot of Isaiah (Thomas) and (John) Stockton, you know, the smaller point guards that had big hearts and did a lot of stuff. Back-to-back MVP (in 2004-05 and 2005-06) at his size is just amazing.

“So … and I think he did a lot of things for the game. I think the great ones, to me, they make the game different. And I think Nash did that, with his movement, being an aggressive scorer but also a facillitator, finishing under the rim. He just made the game different and then when you watch people come behind him and they start trying to do that, or play like him. That means he was special. He was a special player for us all to watch.”
Rivers then played the combination funny/sarcastic card.
“It’s really sad. I guess, you know, he’s 40 years old. What the hell does he expect?” Rivers said, kiddingly, drawing laughter from reporters. “You know, I looked at it that way, too. But he’s had a great career, obviously, a first-ballot Hall of Fame career. So that’s how we should look at it.”