Thursday, July 5th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  164 responses

Steve Nash Chose the Lakers to Stay Close to His Kids


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

There were some important factors in Steve Nash’s decision to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers over his other suitors from around the NBA: the money ($27 million over three years), Kobe Bryant (Nash and KB spoke this week about playing together), and the opportunity to win a championship before he retires.

Most important of all for Steve Nash, though, is the chance to stay close to his children (who reside in Phoenix) now that he will be living and working in Los Angeles.

Nash explained the move to Hollywood, in a statement provided to ESPN:

“After talking with (owner) Robert (Sarver) and (president of basketball operations) Lon (Babby) we’ve agreed that it’s time for both of us to move in new directions. I approached them and asked if they would be willing to do a sign and trade deal with L.A. because it is very important to me to stay near my children and family. They were very apprehensive and didn’t want to do it. Fortunately for me, they reconsidered. They saw that they were able to get assets for their team that will make them better, assets they would not have otherwise had and it made sense for them to do a deal that helps their team get better.”

“I couldn’t be more grateful to the organization and Robert in particular. I know how hard this was for him and that fact that he was able to help me and my family in this way … it means a lot and says a lot about his character. I will never forget this gesture. Above and beyond. The Phoenix Suns are an amazing organization and fans should be excited about their future. I hope the Suns win a championship some day soon for all the amazing fans and wonderful people in the organization.”

According to the report, Ramon Sessions — who opted out of his contract in search of a longer, richer deal — is no longer in the Lakers’ plans going forward.

L.A. will reportedly keep the core of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Steve Nash together next season as the organization looks to get back into NBA title contention.

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , , ,

← Older Comments
  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Hey Allenp. . . I’m not trying to convince you of something else. Your a numbers guy and thats beautiful. It’s what you believe – THE NUMBERS SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENT – I have no problem with that what so ever… My only comment is that I see Nash create for team mates in a regular fashion, in ways that other PGs only do sparingly (Rondo is the closest at present and Lin needs to show he can do it for a whole season) and for the most cases with other PGs not at all… To word my opinion (and again thats all this is…an opinion)clearly. It is that Nash DOES MAKE other players better…because if you put a different PG in the same situation you either DO NOT get the same results. And for the love of the slam threads PLEASE DO NOT KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT… your one of the main reasons I like reading these threads!!!
    respect.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    * Add to that list of “OFFENSE CREATING PGs” Chris Paul of course.

  • Yep

    i think the imaginary number that you guys need to consider is the ratios of points nash will create vs. other lakers pgs of the past (considerably more) and the the points his defensive ineptitude will allow vs lakers pgs of the past (more, but not as drastic).

  • http://www.nba.com Dacre

    October. . . Seems so far away.

  • PnoyVibe

    Kobe’s excited, Lakers are excited, Nash’s excited, I’m excited. Fun time :)

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/10/nfl-players-advice-to-lebron-james-stick-to-basketball/ shutup

    One could argue that making a player more efficient like an earlier argument presented with Amare as the example, can be construed as making a player better. ie. a car with more efficient gas mileage has better gas mileage. I only skimmed through the back and forth, saw Allen’s dislike for Nash on full display and was gonna keep it moving, but alas find myself coming back. For every number one can present there is a counter-statistic one can present. Nash has amassed one of the highest totals in assists in the past decade, I could go on to draw the line that assists; assist a player score, but it would be kind of redundant, to help something would be to make easier, easier to more efficient, more efficient to better. Plus some people believe it’s an act when guys are humble or are team orientated, Nash is the real deal, same vein as Durant and Rose, (not saying that you cant have an ego and be humble, the whole duality of man and all) but can one take less money contend for a chip and be close to your kids? I think so, I truly believe his decision was 1)Kids 2) contention and obviously the money came as an after thought. I also want to point out that he does not qualify for ring chaser status, his contribution will be major, unlike Gary Payton on the Lakers or the Heat. Shaq on the Celtics, etc, etc , etc.

  • Justin G.

    It’s amazing to me that people, especiall nbk and AllenP, are so stubborn about the reasons Nash chooses to play where he does. The fact of the matter is, you both don’t know jack sh*t about it yet claim that you do. You guys need to face facts that you don’t know what you’re talking about on every single subject related to basketball but especially this one

  • eZ

    My input about this situation; Latest news states that Nash is looking to set up his life after basketball, his movie production company that is…Not saying anything bad about his motives but it does shed some new light on his choice.
    Also I very much have to agree with AllenP, on the idea that there are some red flags about this lakersituation that could foreshadow a not so smooth transition. When defensive minded, slow the game down, terry porter came into phoenix nash didn’t play like his normal self. Also, nobody mentioned Shaq. He was there to be the benificiary of nash passes and they would be a devastating duo. But it didn’t work and people started to analyze that maybe a big post player like shaq was clogging the lane for nash, who likes to penatrate the lane and keep his dribble alive.. The suns didn’t manage to make the playoffs with a healty shaq, stoudemire and nash that year..
    Now in LA you’ve got mike brown, bynum in the post together with gasol and a balldominant player in kobe. Kobe is a good shooter but usually shoots from the dribble, not catch and shoot. And ofcourse defense.
    I think the Lakers have enough talent to make it work but it will require a lot of adjustments and sacrifice and a change in mentallity. I don’t know if players with ego’s like bryant and bynum will be capable of those things, and nash seems like a gasol 2.0 in that he will quietly become more and more passive and frustrated.
    That’s it….oh wait did i mention steve’s ailing back and phoenix great medical staff who will no longer be helping him?

  • Allenp

    It is amazing to me that you can’t read. I spent two comments discussing where he is playing and said obviously his kids were important. The rest of the time I spent discussing the impact his moves make.
    I don’t dislike Nash. I dislike arguments based primarily on subjective, inexact points. Those are just beliefs and I don’t like arguing about beliefs. Everyone should have them but we should avoid arguing about them.
    Nash’s greatness is a direct function of his talent, the system he ran and the players he played with in Phoenix. I tend to give more weight to those last two things than most people.

  • pposse

    Cosign NBKs comment at 6:47, last year when the lakers finally beat the heat in the regular season game it became apparent that if d wade has bad games and kobe takes advantage at the ft line that there will be a clear advantage for the lakers imo

  • Bostonballer

    I’ve always like watching Nash play, he does make the game easier and opens the middle with his shot (when he’s not dribbling in the paint) I’ve never really liked the term “makes players better”. players get better with practice, experience… players compliment other players or make the game easier for them. Fisher didn’t make KB better, he complimented him well. MJ didn’t make Scottie better, they complimented each other well. IMO

  • pposse

    and now with steve nash in the mix, a proven veteran, the lakers have a shot against any team in a seven game series..im goin to say it right now if nash stays healthy by mid february vegas will have the lakers favored to go to the finals for sure

  • http://www.slamonline.com TADOne

    I think one point that hasnt been brought up and should be is Nash and his creaky back. Everyone pretty much agrees that PHX has the best medical and training staff league wide. I’m not too sure about the Lakers trainers but Nash will be 39 when the season starts and 41 when this contract ends. How many games will he actually play??

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/10/nfl-players-advice-to-lebron-james-stick-to-basketball/ shutup

    check the player reaction to steve nash on the Lakers. Jared Dudely says thanks Steve Nash for making me a better player. nuff said.

← Older Comments
Advertisement