Steve Nash's decision to retire from the NBA wasn't truly up to him as he said the years of wear-and-tear on his body forced him to call it a career.
Nash discussed his decision to retire after 19 NBA seasons on Tuesday and simply said he didn't feel healthy enough to carry on with the Los Angeles Lakers.
"I really thought I was going to get through the year," Nash said at a news conference at the Lakers training facility to announce his retirement from the NBA, according to ESPN. "I did everything I possibly could. I think I was in as a good a shape as anybody through training camp. But when I woke up that next morning and was a mess, that's when I really started thinking long and hard of what I'm really capable of this year."
Nash said he knew he wasn't going to be able to continue to bounce back and that the decision had already been made for him.
"In the end, it became pretty clear and the decision was sort of made for me," he said. "I just wasn't going to be able to sustain it. I wouldn't be able to help the team this year."
Nash revealed on Sunday that he was retiring from the league and met with the media Tuesday to discuss what led to the decision. Nash said he thought really hard for the past 10 days and consulted friends and family before reaching the conclusion.
Nash came to Los Angeles prior to the 2012-13 season, but was held to just 50 games on the campaign and then played in just 15 contests last season. Nash (back) was then ruled out for the entire 2014-15 season for the Lakers.
"I came here with huge hopes and dreams and was incredibly excited and humbled to come here and have the opportunity to come here and play for the Lakers," Nash said. "For it just not to be in the cards, it was a failure and a huge disappointment. It's been a difficult period of my career and my life -- just to battle through that and try to make something of it -- which was fruitless in the end. I've never worked harder and never wanted something more, but it just wasn't to be."
Nash, 41, spent two stints with the Phoenix Suns, some time with the Dallas Mavericks and then finished out his career as a member of the Lakers.
Nash is third all-time in the NBA in assists (10,335) and owns the most accurate free throw percentage (.904) in league history.
The point guard is a two-time Most Valuable Player and eight-time All-Star and left a great legacy on the court.
"I simply want people to remember me as a competitor and a great teammate," Nash said.
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