Steve Nash announces his retirement from basketball
Two-time MVP Steve Nash has announced his retirement from the NBA in a letter on The Players' Tribune.
I'm retiring from basketball. Thanks for all the love through the years. http://t.co/CMqDBSYIrr pic.twitter.com/iNTG6eap4D
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) March 21, 2015
Nash, 39, was an eight-time All-Star with the Suns and Dallas Mavericks, winning two MVP awards for Phoenix in 2004-05 and 2005-06. He has played for the Los Angeles Lakers since signing there in 2012, but struggled with injuries throughout his Laker tenure.
In his letter on The Players' Tribune, titled "Life After Basketball," Nash reveals his feelings about his time in Los Angeles.
When I signed with the Lakers, I had big dreams of lifting the fans up and lighting this city on fire. I turned down more lucrative offers to come to L.A. because I wanted to be in the “fire,” and play for high risk and high reward in my last NBA chapter. In my second game here, I broke my leg and nothing was the same.
Last spring, when I returned to the court, I was given a standing ovation at Staples Center. It was a dark time in my career and that gesture will be one of my best memories. 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. There’s a lot of class in Lakerland, and the organization and staff have given me unwavering support.
Nash, the 15th pick of the 1996 NBA Draft, has career averages of 14.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists.
