Steve Nash will retire after next season when his three-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers runs out, he confirmed early this week in an interview with a Slovenian Sport TV Channel.
The Johannesburg-native, who played internationally for Canada, was plagued by injuries and could only play 67 games over the course of the past two seasons.
“I want to just play one more full season,” Nash said. “I think this is my last season. I still love to play, I still love to practice and work on my game. I’m going to spend many, many years living this game without basketball, so it would be nice to play one more year,” said the 40-year-old who will get paid $9.7 million in his last year with the Lakers.
As a result of Nash’s eminent retirement, the Lakers acquired Jeremy Lin from the Houston Rockets and selected Jordan Clarkson in the second round of the draft.
Although Nash is still an active NBA player he holds the General Manager role of the Canadian national team, which he last represented at the 2003 Pan American Olympic Qualifying Tournament for in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
He also featured in the 2000 Sydney Olympics as well as the 1994 FIBA World Cup held in Canada.
“I could not do both,” he said when asked about his early retirement from the Canadian national team. “But I can still contribute and put our programme forward,” he said.
A 6-foot-3 point guard, Nash was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1996 NBA Draft, and went on to build a successful playing career, which included two Most Valuable Player awards as well as eight All-Star appearances.
Over the course of his 18-year NBA career, Nash represented the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and the Lakers.
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