The yearly grind of the NBA's 82-game schedule is brutal, but that will no longer be a concern for Laker's guard Steve Nash, who announced his retirement on Saturday.
A two-time league MVP and the third-ranked all-time leader in assists, at 6 feet 3 inches tall, Nash go does as one of the greatest guards the game has ever seen, but his final years in Los Angeles were marred by injury and disappointment.
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Nash broke the news of his retirement in a blog post titled "Life After Basketball," in which he said, "I will likely never play basketball again. It’s bittersweet. I already miss the game deeply, but I’m also really excited to learn to do something else."
Addressing some of the critique he's received from some fans for coming to the Lakers and making nearly $10 per year while logging scant minutes on the court, Nash said, "There’s been a lot of negativity online, but in my nearly three years in L.A., I’ve never met anyone who didn’t show me anything but love and support for my efforts."
When Nash arrived in Los Angeles, alongside Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, there were high hopes that the trio might begin to inch the team back toward the playoff relevancy that has become so common over the course of the team's long history. But nagging injuries plagued Nash at every turn.
Some of those struggles to rehab himself back into playing shape were revealed in a Grantland documentary series last year called The Finish Line, in which Nash was visibly distressed about his inability to work himself back into a consistent rotation with the team due to injury.
Despite sitting on the sidelines, Nash, who turned 41 last month, will earn $9.7 million for the 2014-15 season.
In response to the announcement, a number of his fellow NBA players weighed in with praise for Nash and his remarkable career.
It was an honor to play with you @SteveNash and I'm proud to have you as a friend! Thanks for what you taught me. #2xMVP #Legend— Boris Diaw (@theborisdiaw) March 21, 2015
@SteveNash thanks for the amazing years you gave the game. #hof— DeAndre Jordan (@deandrejordan6) March 21, 2015
Unbelievable career @SteveNash. Glad I had a chance to play against you. It was an honor & pleasure! Enjoy the rest. pic.twitter.com/1kQUx03hNa— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) March 21, 2015
Congrats @SteveNash on an amazing career. It was a pleasure to compete against you so many times. Enjoy!— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) March 21, 2015