Two-time MVP and current LA Lakers guard Steve Nash has denied rumors that he will be retiring soon, saying he is focused on playing out the rest of his contract with the team that has been struggling with injuries to its key players like Nash and franchise star Kobe Bryant.
"No," was Nash's quick reply to reporters asking if he was considering retirement. "Not at all. I don't know where that came from. For me, I realize I have about 18 months left of basketball. I want the most out of this that I can possibly get. I don't know if that's going to be one game or the vast majority of what's left," he told ESPN.com.
He indicated that retirement can wait and that he plans to continue playing. "But I've got a long life without basketball so I don't want to give in too soon. I want to try to make the most of this opportunity to play, if I can."
Nash, 39, is averaging 7.6 points and 5.2 assists this year while shooting a miserable 27.6 percent. The fiigures are way off his career averages. The oldest player in the league, Nash still has two years in his contract that pays him around $18 million.
The wily veteran, who was the league MVP in 2005 and 2006 while playing for the Phoenix Suns, said he plans to fly to Vancouver to rehab his back and hamstrings while his team takes on a three-game road trip out east.
Nash last played on November 10 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, his star point guard could be back on the practice court by December. Still, Nash was not sure if he'll be healthy by that time.
"It would be great. What's that, a week, 10 days kind of thing? It'd be great. But I don't know."
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