Steve Nash was once regarded as one of the best point guards, if not the best point guard three years ago. Times have changed in a span of three years Nash is now referred to as an "old man" and at age 40 he is the oldest active player in the NBA right now. It's sad to see one of the greats ending his career with injuries, but it's the obvious sign from father time that it's time to hang'em up!
"I have definitely gone through my ups and downs and faced my adversity and my naysayers, but managed to do all right. It is a pretty classic tale."
- Steve Nash
Indeed, Steve Nash has had his fair share of ups and downs in his career, but putting on a Laker uniform has somewhat ended his great run as one of the best point guards in the league. When the Lakers acquired him in a sign-and-trade in the summer of 2012, he was supposed to be the anchor of the Lakers offense. Reviving the "Showtime" era, while bringing back the Larry O'Brian trophy back to the most storied franchise in sports. The complete opposite ended up happening and he's been more of a bust than a savior. One could wonder, how Nash would have fared if he was healthy and never missed any time last year? One can only imagine...
The Lakers expected Nash to compliment Kobe Bryant in an uptempo offense that also featured Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace. The team looked good on paper, but couldn't develop any kind of chemistry after injuries and a coaching change. Nash played in only 50 games for the Lakers last year and has only played in 10 games this year, and it's already February! It may be safe to say that Nash is at the end of the road.
He suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left leg after a collision with Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers in only the second game of the season, last year! Things haven't been the same for the former two-time MVP since that injury. It has single handedly destroyed his time with the Lakers.
His body is telling him one thing, but his heart and mind are telling him something else. Of course it's hard to end a career due to an injury and no player who was once celebrated as an elite player wants to end their career with a nagging injury, but unfortunately that may be the way it ends for Nash.
Steve Nash has had an exceptional career that featured him as the main guy on numerous Phoenix Sun teams who rocked shoulder length hair that looked like a mop, but also destroyed the opposition. He turned teammates into all-stars and revived many careers. Just ask Grant Hill how important Steve Nash was to him. Clearly he was the guy who made everyone better. He's never had that effect on his current Lakers team because he's been a shell of his former self due to one injury after the other.
With one more year left on his current contract, Nash should retire and hang his head up high with a sense of pride. His pride and determination to win a championship drove him to the Los Angeles Lakers in hopes of winning a championship. Winning a championship is a mere pipe dream at this point, but he took a chance on teaming up with a rival and it simply didn't work. Steve Nash should retire and forget about his years with the Lakers because the truth is, it was never meant to work out, and father time is letting him know.
Peace... From Rio...
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