in the first quarter during an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Calif., on Friday, April 4, 2014.
(Keith Birmingham Pasadena Star-News)

At some point when Steve Nash kept making the dazzling passes that will earn him an eventual induction in the Hall of Fame, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni approached him with a simple message.

“This is not your last game,” D’Antoni said, mindful that Nash had suggested that very idea mere hours before the Lakers’ 107-95 loss Friday to the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center became official.
Continue reading “Mike D’Antoni says Steve Nash will keep playing this season” »

In this file photo, Los Angeles Lakers’ Steve Nash, left, shoots over Chicago Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. (Chris Carlson/AP file)

Plenty can change within 24 hours for Steve Nash.

Persisting nerve pain, continuous wear and tear on a 40-year-old body and a revolving door in the Lakers’ training room all have fueled unpredictability to an already messy season.

But once  Nash steps on the floor when the Lakers (25-50) host the Dallas Mavericks (45-31) Friday night at Staples Center, the ensuing moments could mark his last game of the season.

“This could be it tonight,” Nash said. “We’ll see. You never know what happens.”

Yet, Nash believes this scenario will unfold for two reasons despite the Lakers having seven games left.

Though he felt no additional pain in his sprained left ankle and nerve irritation in his back, Nash expressed skepticism he could recover in time to play when the Lakers visit the Clippers for a designated road game on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center. The Lakers are also eying the possibility that Farmar will return on Tuesday when the Lakers host the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. The Lakers then plan to shut Nash down so he can focus on his recovery while the Lakers evaluate how Farmar fits into their free agency plans.

Though Nash has played in only 7.3 points on 37.1 percent shooting and 5.7 assists through 13 games, he could finish the 2013-14 season in a much better physical state than in his first season with the Lakers. Then, Nash missed a combined 32 games because of a fractured left leg and ensuing nerve damage in his hamstrings and back. The latter injury hurt Nash so much that he could not even sprint in the Lakers’ first two playoff games to San Antonio before ultimately shutting it down. Nash reported his progress in the summer mostly entailed improving his postural stability and movement patterns before sprinting in late August and early September shortly before training camp.

“I’ll probably play more basketball,” Nash said of his offseason plans. “I couldn’t play basketball until September last year. I couldn’t play a lot last year. We’ll see. I have no idea how my body will respond so I’ll give it a shot.”

Meanwhile, Nash faces uncertainty on if he will actually return next season.

The Lakers could waive him via the stretch provision by Aug. 31, which would enable them to owe only $3 million of Nash’s $9.8 million salary annually through three years. But Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has said he will leave that decision up to Nash, who has vowed he play out his contract. The Lakers also would maximize their financial flexibility keeping Nash next season since his salary would come completely off the books in time to pursue a talented 2015 free agency class, including Minnesota’s Kevin Love.

But first things first.

Nash will play at least one more game with a chance to add on to his Hall of Fame worthy resume that includes two league MVP awards. Nash, who has compiled 10,323 career assists, remains 12 assists away from surpassing Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson (10,334) for third place on the NBA’s all-time assist list. The milestone appears reachable tonight considering Nash has averaged nine assists in the last three games he has played. Nash would then trail only John Stockton (15,806 assists) and Jason Kidd (12,091 assists).

“They were both two one of the greatest point guards to ever play,” Nash said. “I got to play against both of them and two guys I look up to. It’s great to be on a list. I feel fortunate I’ve been able to play as well as I have.”

At least for one more game.

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Steve Nash plans to dole out another assist.

But this time, this won’t involve Nash making one of his dazzling passes on the basketball court. Instead, the Lakers guard plans to partner with Beck & Score, a service that plans to provide discounted tickets and travel arrangements to the 2014 World Cup beginning in June in Brazil.

“It is well known that I am passionate about soccer, and the opportunity to partner with Beck & Score, to merge business with sport was very intriguing to me,” Nash said in a statement on the company’s Web site. “My role will largely be to represent Beck & Score’s promotional and press initiatives starting with the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil in June.”

Nash has frequently kicked around ideas to get on the pitch.

He has hosted a charity soccer tournament in recent years in New York and added an event last year in Los Angeles, both games in which supported his self-named foundation. Nash remains a part-owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer. He also spent last offseason season participating in a friendly tryout for the Inter Milan soccer team. Nash also traveled to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup where he freelanced for CBS Sports.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Lakers#10 Steve Nash fires up his team mates Lakers#50 Robert Sacre and Lakers#0 Nick Young in the first half. The Lakers played the Portland Trail Blazers in a regular season game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. April 1, 2014 (Photo by John McCoy / Los Angeles Daily News)

TNT analyst and former NBA star Chris Webber was on hand for the Lakers’ 124-112 loss Tuesday to the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. And with that, Webber touched on a number of topics surrounding the purple and gold. Below are a few released through TNT:

Webber on the future of the Lakers: “If you are a Lakers fan, you’re very upset about this season with the injuries to [Lakers veterans] Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant. But if you look forward to the future, these young guys like [Lakers guards] Kent Bazemore and Jodie Meeks are getting a lot of playing time. If they’re going to be on this team in the future, experience is what you need now since you are out of the playoff race. There are still some positive things happening [for the Lakers].”

Webber on the return of veteran Steve Nash from injury: “He does not have to play, but there is a button in his head that tells him to go get the ball, jump and shoot like he used to be able to. You can’t do that as a veteran player. It is so frustrating; it’s like a game within itself. Nash is out here for the love. You have to love, respect and honor that. You just hope he has fun while he’s playing and finishing out his career.”
Continue reading “Chris Webber offers take on Lakers, Steve Nash, pending free agency” »

The concerns kept popping into Mike D’Antoni’s head even as he saw Steve Nash show the signs of greatness that solidified him as a two-time MVP, the fourth all-time leader in assists and pending candidate for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Nash endlessly provided dazzling plays with swift passes and timely shots. But how long could he withstand his injury-riddled 40-year-old body? Nash looked mobile enough to play through a sprained left ankle that required treatment. But how long before that ankle became yet another ailment that would set back his recovery? Nash kept insisting he felt fine. But how much did those words reflect more of his competitive spirit than an actual medical diagnosis?

After repeatedly peppering Nash throughout the game about his health, D’Antoni eventually cracked something that both showed his sarcasm and his affection for a player that once consistently revitalized his fast-paced, perimeter-oriented offense with the Phoenix Suns.

Recalled D’Antoni: ‘Well, I guess when you just keel over we’ll just cart him off and know that we have to substitute.'”

Yet, such a scenario never unfolded as Nash posted his first double double of the season, a 10-point and 10-assist effort in only 21 minutes providing a bright spot in the Lakers’ 124-112 loss Tuesday to the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center.

“The key for me is if I’m moving well, I know I can play the game at a high level and I felt good tonight,” Nash said while sitting down by his locker stall with an electronic stimulation machine attached to his ankle. “If I’m moving well, good things I think can happen out there.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash offering encouraging signs with his play” »

Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9), of Spain, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Minneapolis, Friday, March 28, 2014. The Timberwolves won 143-107. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

MINNEAPOLIS — Only two days beforehand, Steve Nash considered his back so painful that he would not even try to play on the Lakers’ two-game trip.

The concerns no longer rested on whether his body could sustain the physical wear and tear. Instead, the nerve irritation became so bothersome that his workload reduced toward nothing more than spot-up shooting drills.

Yet, there Nash was on the court in the Lakers’ 143-107 loss Friday to the Minnesota Timberwolves where he posted five points on two of five shooting and six assists in 15 minutes. Both the game and Nash’s stat line proved meaningless, but his on-court presence revealed everything about how he’s still finding purpose in a lost season.

“A guy that wants to play,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni was how he described his 40-year-old point guard. “Obviously he will be rusty and everything. We’ll have to keep monitoring that going forward.”

For once, that progress did not entail Nash making any turns for the worse.

“I wasn’t totally pain free, but I didn’t have one of those, obviously, setbacks that are kind of debilitating,” Nash said. “So, we’ll see. Hopefully I can play again.”

Why Nash played hinged on three factors.

He reported feeling healthy enough to play. The Lakers suffered an additional injury with Xavier Henry sitting out because of increased soreness in his right knee, an injury that has sidelined him for 28 other games this season. Lakers guard Jordan Farmar plans to get reevaluated this weekend in hopes to return late next week after missing the previous six games because of a strained right groin. The Lakers had originally shut Nash down earlier this month in part because they wanted Kendall Marshall and Farmar to have significant minutes so they could properly evaluate how they fit into their long-term plans.

“Frankly I don’t know if I’ll play again or if I play every game (the rest) of the year,” said Nash, his status for the Lakers game Sunday against Phoenix at Staples center an unknown. “The bottom line is right now is this is a situation where I want to play, that’s the only reason I played tonight, but I also want to go into this summer healthy.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash reports no setbacks in Lakers’ loss to Minnesota, but unsure about playing status” »

The Lakers’ Steve Nash gives a hug to teammate Xavier Henry after an errant pass, Friday, March 21, 2014, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

MILWAUKEE — It turns out Steve Nash will only have to brace for the cold Midwestern temperatures on the Lakers’ latest trip than stress over his ailing back feeling worse because of incidental contact.

Nash ruled himself out for when the Lakers (24-16) play tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks (13-58) at BMO Harris Bradley Center and for Friday’s game in Minnesota.

“Hopefully in the next week I’ll be able to play,” Nash said.

Nash joked that he should expedite his timetable so he can play before Jordan Farmar returns from a strained right groin that has sidelined him for the past four games. But the Lakers will not evaluate Farmar until sometime next week without any assurances if he will return then.

Nash posted an efficient 11 assists in 19 minutes in the Lakers’ loss Friday to Washington, a game he only played because the Lakers only had one traditional point guard in Kendall Marshall. But Nash reported feeling a tweak in his back toward the end of the game, an injury that has sidelined him for all but 11 games this season.

“It’s irritated,” Nash said. “I’m going to let it settle it down. It’s coming.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

The Lakers’ Steve Nash drives the baseline on the Wizards’ Andre Miller, Friday, March 21, 2014, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

Back when he first chased his dream toward achieving basketball greatness, Kobe Bryant played in Italy and looked up to someone who would later become his coach with the Lakers.

Mike D’Antoni.

Bryant idolized D’Antoni for obvious reasons. In his stint with Olimpia Milano (1978-90), D’Antoni finished as the team’s all-time leading scorer, won five Italian League titles, two Euroleague titles, two Cups of Italy, one Korac Cup and one Interconintental Cup. So Bryant proudly wore D’Antoni’s No. 8 jersey, which later became his number initially with the Lakers.

All of these years later, however, Steve Nash confirmed that Bryant and D’Antoni have not become a good match together with the Lakers.

“I wouldn’t disagree,” Nash told ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd. “We’ve seen that. People have deduced and read between the lines and felt that way, they’re not wrong. It’s not the perfect marriage.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash pinpoints Kobe Bryant-Mike D’Antoni relationship hurt from lack of time together” »

The Lakers’ Steve Nash does a behind the back pass after driving the key on the Wizards’ Trevor Ariza, Friday, March 21, 2014, at Staples Center. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News)

This sounds painfully repetitive.

Steve Nash is considered doubtful to play when the Lakers (22-46) host the Orlando Magic (19-51) Sunday at Staples Center because of nerve irritation in his back and hamstrings. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni still held out hope Nash could play a home game on Tuesday against the New York Knicks.

“He feels better, bu it’s still precarious,” D’Antoni said. “We’re just being real cautious.”

Nash posted a season-high 11 assists in 19 minutes in the Lakers’ 117-107 loss Friday to the Washington Wizards, but he left with 2:14 remaining when nerve pain emerged.

Did Nash play too many minutes?

“Nobody knows. I’ve never had a hard number,” D’Antoni said. “You kind of play them and say, ‘How do you feel, are you tired at all?’ You want to be cautious and we thought we were. He said he made movement and he tweaked it. He has some pain. I don’t know if it was a product of the minutes or just the physicality of it happening. It didn’t seem like a lot of minutes, but we’ll definitely watch it.”

D’Antoni announced two weeks ago that Nash would sit out the rest of the season both because of his health and so the Lakers could evaluate young prospects Kendall Marshall and Jordan Farmar. But Farmar strained his right groin last week, leaving Marshall as the team’s lone traditional point guard.

Nash has played in only 11 games this season, averaging 7.4 points on 36.7 percent shooting and 5.3 assists in 22.2 minutes. The Lakers also have remained decimated at the backcourt position elsewhere. Kobe Bryant played only six games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Farmar has sat out a combined 32 games because of hamstring and groin issues. Steve Blake missed 36 games because of a hyperextended right elbow before the Lakers traded him last month to the Golden State Warriors for Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks. Xavier Henry will also sit out tonight because of a torn ligament in his left wrist. Henry plans to see a hand specialist on Monday, but he told D’Antoni he can play Tuesday against New York.

The depleting backcourt leaves the Lakers likely to use Bazemore and Jodie Meeks sharing ball handling duties behind Marshall.

“That’s probably one of the reasons why it’s hard to get traction,” D’Antoni said. “You lose the heart and soul of your team, it also affects other players. The league is dominated by really good point guards. You got to have them.”

Meanwhile, the Lakers will field their 32nd starting lineup that will feature Pau Gasol, Jordan Hill, Wesley Johnson, Meeks and Marshall. Hill posted nine points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in the Lakers’ loss to Washington in his first appearance since missing the past 10 games with a hyperextended right knee. Johnson returns to the lineup after sitting out against Washington with an upper respiratory infection.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com