In this file photo, Steve Nash talks to media after Lakers practice on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013. (Photo by Brad Graverson/The Daily Breeze file)

After completing all portions of the Lakers’ non-contact practice on Thursday, Lakers guard Steve Nash plans to play Friday against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center, according to league source.

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni had ruled Nash out last week because of nerve irritation in his back and hamstrings that sidelined him for all but 10 games. But the Lakers only have one true point guard in Kendall Marshall, who is still expected to start against Washington. Jordan Farmar is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks because of strained right groin, while the Lakers struggled in their 125-109 loss Wednesday to San Antonio with a by-committee backcourt that included Jodie Meeks, Kent Bazemore and Xavier Henry.

Nash who hasn’t played a game since Feb. 11 and has averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 assists in 10 games. But he told this newspaper last week that he has felt healthy enough to play after spending recent weeks rehabbing his back and hamstrings and completing shooting drills. But the Lakers were reluctant to play him for both health reasons and so they could evaluate their young prospects.

Nash, who is under contract for next season worth $9.7 million, plans to return next season.

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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

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)

OKLAHOMA CITY — Steve Nash moved all around the court at a brisk pace, knocking down jumper after jumper.

But nearly a week after expressing strong doubt Nash would play this season because of persisting nerve issues in his back and hamstrings, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni officially ruled Nash out for the remainder of the 2012-13 season.

“He’s not going to play,” D’Antoni said. “It doesn’t make any sense for him to come back for 15-18 games.”

Nash has appeared in only 10 games this season, averaging 7.6 points on 36.4. percent shooting and 4.7 assists in 22 minutes. He has missed the past 12 games after colliding with Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich on Feb. 9, which opened up nerve irritation in his previously fractured left knee.

“I’ve been ready to play for the last two weeks,” Nash told this newspaper. “I’ve been ready to play. But they want to see these guys, evaluate for next year and see if they bring back a lot of guys. The tenuous nature of my health, they probably don’t need the distraction of me coming back in and out of the lineup. I’m just here if needed.”
Continue reading “Mike D’Antoni officially rules out playing Steve Nash this season” »

Steve Nash’s stoic demeanor, his relentless work ethic and the ominous background music epitomized the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Lakers’ guard’s health. As captured in Grantland’s video series charting Nash’s comeback and detailed in this newspaper here and here, Nash’s unyielding resilience hasn’t overcome the persisting nerve issues that have plagued his back, hamstrings and left left for the past 1 1/2 seasons with the Lakers.

It makes for a both compelling and depressing storyline. Compelling because Nash’s professionalism has emerged amid a terrible circumstance. Depressing because a two-time NBA MVP and one of the best point guards of this past generation has become reduced toward a talking point among Laker fans about his presence clogging up the team’s salary cap. But amid those dark themes, former Clippers guard Baron Davis found a way to spoof Nash’s efforts in the video highlighted above.

The parody works, in part, because Nash and Davis are close friends and have worked extensively before on silly videos. But it also reveals the dry humor both of them possess. And for Nash, he’s still able to maintain that outlook despite the negative circumstances surrounding him.

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

Lakers’ Steve Nash (10) eludes Jazz’s Trey Burke (3) as he drives to the key in a NBA Western Conference basketball game at the Staples Center Tuesday, February 11, 2014, Los Angeles, CA. After a sizable lead, the Lakers trailed at halftime 48-37.
Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze

The gym quickly scattered, the product of too many players in the training room making a Lakers’ practice pretty impractical.

Yet, even with Steve Nash nursing nerve pain in his back and already en route to his Manhattan Beach residence, he drove back to the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo to speak with reporters about some fairly depressing topics.

Nash plans to sit out when the Lakers (18-34) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (42-12) Thursday at Staples Center because of what he called “a little irritation” and “flare up” surrounding a nerve permeating his back and hamstrings. He also expressed some cautious optimism the NBA All-Star break could give him enough time to correct the back issues that made him leave the second half for two consecutive games. Nash vowed he’ll continue fighting despite a full offseason and nearly three months of treatment during the season hasn’t controlled the nerves from inflaming again.

“Obviously after having a really good week in Minnesota and Philadelphia, to have a setback is frustrating,” said Nash, who had 19 points and five assists last week against the Sixers on his 40th birthday. “To get hit on the exact spot where I broke my leg is unlucky. It’s part of it. You have to fight through the frustration and do what you can to get back out there.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash to sit out Thursday vs. Oklahoma City” »

Lakers’ Steve Nash (10) passes around Jazz’s Trey Burke (3) in the key in a NBA Western Conference basketball game at the Staples Center Tuesday, February 11, 2014, Los Angeles, CA. After a sizable lead, the Lakers trailed at halftime 48-37.
Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze

Steve Nash’s self-expectations hardly mirrored the dazzling passes, smooth jumper and the dependable free throw shooting that makes him a surefire Hall of Famer.

“I just want to be moving well,” Nash said Tuesday morning.

Nearly 10 hours later, Nash couldn’t pass that benchmark. He left the second half of the Lakers’ 96-79 loss Tuesday to the Utah Jazz at Staples Center after feeling more nerve irritation in his back and hamstrings. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni listed him as day-to-day, making it possible Nash could play Thursday before Oklahoma City.

Whether Nash pushes through or rests through NBA All-Star weekend, it’s clear the Lakers don’t have the same excitement as they did last week when Nash posted 19 points and five assists in Philadelphia on his 40th birthday.

“I’m pretty concerned,” Lakers guard Steve Blake said. “I know he’s dealing with a lot of pain and I see how hard he has to work just to get the few minutes he has been playing. Then that he’s out again, you never know how serious it is. I’m concerned for him.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash leaves second half of Lakers’ 96-79 loss to Utah, sparking varying levels of concern” »

Michael Perez–The Associated Press The Lakers’ Steve Nash, right, celebrates with Steve Blake during a recent victory.

Despite feeling “a little irritated” surrounding the nerve issues in his back, Steve Nash will play when the Lakers (18-33) host the Utah Jazz (17-33) tonight at Staples Center.

“It’s felt really good other than taking the bump off that nerve,” said Nash, who felt additional damage in his left leg in the Lakers’ loss Sunday to Chicago. “It’s felt really good. The biggest thing is symptoms are minimal and if I’m moving well. If I move well, the symptoms are going to stay minimal. If I’m not moving well for whatever reason that day, then the symptoms are probably coming back because I wasn’t as efficient and effective. I’ll be irritated in the nerve with my movement.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash to start tonight vs. Utah” »

Until his body tells him otherwise, Steve Nash has no plans but to play when the Lakers play Tuesday against the Utah Jazz. He also has no plans to retire, either.

Yet, a New York Daily News report indicated Nash told friends that he plans to retire after the 2013-14 season despite being under contract next year. Is there any truth to that?

“Not from me,” Nash said. “I work as hard as I can everyday to perform and keep going until I’m not playing anymore. But right now, I have no intentions to stop playing.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash plans to play vs. Utah, has no plans to retire” »

MINNEAPOLIS – The Lakers’ depressing state couldn’t wipe away Steve Nash’s smile.

The relative inconsequence that his return from a three-month absence made in the Lakers’ 109-99 loss Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday at Target Center couldn’t take away his joy. And even if Nash made himself vulnerable toward further nerve irritation in his back, Nash reported that his first appearance after missing the past 39 contests hardly yielded further damage.

So much that Nash reported with plenty of enthusiasm, “this is about as good as I felt this season.”

The Lakers 39-year-old point guard referred to his back, showing it could finally withstand the pounding of an NBA game after working out twice a day for the past 10 months to improve his postural stability. But he also could’ve referred to his play in Minnesota where he posted seven points and nine assists in 25 minutes. Nash’s description also applied to his state of mind. Though he will turn 40 on Friday and has played 18 NBA seasons en route to a Hall of Fame induction, Nash conceded “part of me feels like a kid and a rookie that got to play in the NBA.” So much that Nash gushed about playing with newcomers Ryan Kelly and Manny Harris.

“I feel a bit selfish in that we lost, but I just felt great to play in the NBA again and be out there with my teammates,” Nash said. “Obviously the game didn’t go as we hoped. But personally, it was cool for me to be out there.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash relishes return in Lakers’ loss to Minnesota” »