Steve Nash desperately wanted to continue playing basketball but his body repeatedly failed him with each comeback attempt. He finally threw in the towel and announced his retirement on Saturday. After many years with the Phoenix Suns he went to the Los Angeles Lakers to try and win a title with Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard but that resulted in an utter failure. Now it turns out Nash had one more opportunity to possibly secure a championship ring.
League sources told ESPN.com earlier this month that LeBron James‘ Cleveland Cavaliers — who happen to have two of the biggest Nash admirers on Earth in their front office, in David Griffin and former teammate Raja Bell — let it be known to longtime Nash agent Bill Duffy that they would love to give the old man a whirl as a short-minute backup to Kyrie Irving if Nash wanted to seek a buyout from the Lakers after the trade deadline passed with no deal.
No chance, though.
He only wanted to come back — and go out — as a Laker.
Nash wouldn’t be able to provide much on the court as he admitted, “I think I can [still] have a great game. But I can’t do it more than once or twice a month.” But he would’ve provided mentorship for Kyrie Irving and leadership in the locker room. Nash however is happy to hang it up and stay in Los Angeles where he’s near to his three children.
