Lakers’ Steve Nash Definitely Out For Season, Probably Forever

Rapidly aging Steve Nash, who has dressed for 65 of 164 regular season games since signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012, has been unsuccessfully battling Father Time for years now. The 40-year-old point guard, who will be 41 in February, has been largely on the decline since 2007.

Any hopes for a very unlikely comeback this season have already been squashed, with the Lakers announcement on Thursday that Nash would miss the entire 2014-15 season due to a nagging back injury. Nerve damage limited his play to just three preseason games and then Nash further strained his injury while carrying luggage last week.

Image via Twitter: @Lakers

Image via Twitter: @Lakers

Naturally the Lakers were polite about the announcement, but the reality is that signing Nash has been the most ill-advised and most costly terrible decision over a two-year span that has seen nothing but for the traditional powerhouse Lakers.

This season is the most lucrative of Nash’s three-year deal, which will pay him just over $9.7 million, despite not taking the court once during the regular season. That’s not to say he was doing much more to earn his paycheck the two years prior.

Nash has been on the bench through most of his stint with the Lakers.

Though the Lakers would’ve been crazy to assume someone of Nash’s age would stay healthy for 82 games a season, assuming he had, his $27+ million contract would’ve paid him $113,420 per regular season game over the life of it. Breaking it down based on the actual reality of his production paints a much bleaker picture.

Nash’s per game (played/dressed for) salary in three seasons with the Lakers: $429, 253

Nash’s per minute salary in the 15 games he played with the Lakers last season: $29,714 

Nash’s per point salary (739 total points) in three seasons he spent on the Lakers payroll: $37,755 

Apparently Nash is now going to “focus on rest and rehabilitation,” with no mention of possible retirement being made in anywhere in the official statement. Which is just unfortunate, given a retirement announcement is several years overdue for the two-time NBA MVP.

Maybe the back injury is a blessing in disguise, forcing Nash to pull the trigger on an exceedingly tough decision he may not have been able to make without being pushed. He certainly hasn’t been able to do so till this point.