Steve Nash Optimistic About Health for 2014-15 NBA Season

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash is optimistic about his heatlh for the upcoming 2014-15 NBA season. 

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This was what Nash told The Los Angeles Daily News‘ Mark Medina on Oct. 4:

“The enthusiasm is Steve Nash’s voice sounded infectious. His smile widened as he spoke. And the Lakers guard appeared relaxed after nearly completing a week of training camp in which he flourished on the court without injuring himself.

“Nash has spent the past four months in this state, reporting ‘no hiccups’ this past offseason while healing the nerve root irritation in his back and hamstrings that sideline him last season for all but 15 games. So even if Nash described his past two injur-riddled seasons as a ‘nightmare,’ the Lakers’ 40-year-old point guard seemed excited as an unproven rookie eager to crack an NBA roster.

“‘Because it’s so tenuous, I never act like I’m ready to go and am past everything,’ Nash said in an interview with this newspaper. ‘I’ve gone through too much to feel that way, but I feel good.’

“Nash could hardly describe himself the same way a day after saying those words. He missed most of Saturday’s practice after rolling his left ankle on the foot of rookie forward Julius Randle during a conditioning drill.

“Nash maintained he will practice today. But even if Lakers coach Byron Scott expressed optimism that Nash’s latest injury marks just a ‘minor setback,’ the episode only illustrated the season-long uncertainty about whether Nash can stay healthy.

“Yet, Nash’s overall outlook has appeared different for one specific reason.

“Last year, his health had deteriorated so much that he spent most of his summer rehabbing his back and hamstringas with his potential trainer, Rick Celebrini. Nash could not sprint until two weeks before training camp started. This year, Nash reported feeling healthy enough by /4/to train both without restrictions and without Celebrini’s guidance.

“Hence, Nash /4/prolong his NBA career once his $9.8 million contract with the Lakers expires after this season. That decision hinges on a few variables.

“‘My health, enjoyment and effectiveness,’ Nash said. ‘If I have a chance to play, it would have to be here. I’m not going to at this stage move somewhere else for a reason and move my kids there.’

“Nash also plans to stay in Los Angeles whenever he retires. But beyond staying involved as the general manager of the Canadian basketball team and with his film production company, Meathawk, Nash’s post-retirement life sounds uncertain.

“‘Maybe it will take me a year, two years or five years,’ Nash said. ‘The longer I take, the better. Then I’ll be certain with what I want to do instead of rushing into something.'” 

VIDEO: @SteveNash says he’s feeling fine & will be ready tomorrow after tweaking his ankle – http://t.co/e2dJJG6LLj pic.twitter.com/8BaZM9fXZl

— LakersTV (@LakersTV) October 4, 2014

Last Saturday, Nash remained unfazed even after he suffered a minor left ankle inury, per The Los Angeles Times’ Eric Pincus:

“Steve Nash sat out most of practice Saturday after suffering a minor left ankle injury when he stepped on the foot of rookie teammate Julius Randle.

“‘It was a conditioning drill at the start of practice. I just stepped on somebody’s foot and rolled it,’ said Nash. ‘The calf tightened up, but I feel actually fine right now.’

“The Lakers have a second practice scheduled in the evening. Nash isn’t likely to participate but said he’ll be ready to go on Sunday morning.

“‘I could practice this afternoon, but we’ll just see how it goes,’ he said. ‘I’ll probably just come back tomorrow.’

“The 40-year-old guard has struggled to stay healthy through is first two seasons with the Lakers, playing in just 15 last year with back, hamstring and knee issues.

“Nash came into training camp earlier this week in better shape than he was all of the 2013-14 season. 

“In addition to Nash’s ankle tweak, the Lakers are without Nick Young (thumb), Ryan Kelly (hamstring) and Xavier Henry (back, knee). 

“The Lakers play their first exhibition game on Monday night in San Diego against the Denver Nuggets.”

Nash has averaged 14.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists in 1,217 career regular-season games through Oct. 5 for the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, per ESPN stats. 

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