LeBron on Steve Nash: “I Wish I Could Have Been A Teammate Of His”
Lakers point guard Steve Nash was recently ruled out for the 2014-15 NBA season with further injury to his back. The 40-year-old hasn’t announced his official retirement yet, but people have started talking about Nash in that light in the meantime.
Here’s what LeBron James had to say about the two-time MVP, via Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
His run in Phoenix was unbelievable, man. The way he played the game of basketball, I wish I could have been a teammate of his for a year or two. Being around a guy like that who is just all about team. He never asked for anything and everything was given to him. You can respect somebody like that.
Can we take a second, close our eyes, and imagine an offense orchestrated by Steve Nash and LeBron James? How about in Mike D’Antoni’s system? Fun to think about.
LeBron also touched on the last leg of Nash’s career being injury-ridden:
It’s tough. You hate to see anyone have the game taken away because of an injury and especially a talent like that. Obviously he’s worked his tail off to try to be healthy and play for the franchise. Over his career, he’s always kept his body in shape. We all knew that, and for his body to fail him at a time where he feels he still has something to give to the game, it sucks.
At the same time, he has nothing to be ashamed of. He should be proud of every moment he had in this league. From him waiting behind, sitting on the bench behind J-Kidd [in Dallas] to finally getting his opportunity in Dallas and going back to Phoenix and having an unbelievable career with two MVPs and doing the things that he did.
The way Nash played in the prime of his career transformed his position and the entire game with it. If this truly is the end for Steve Nash, we should see him on a first-ballot to the Hall of Fame next.