His familiar No. 13 was already retired (Wilt Chamberlain), so Nash took the No. 10 purple and gold jersey. The new number was not so lucky for the two-time League MVP.
The future Hall of Famer had virtually every obstacle thrown his way, from injuries to three coaches in the same season. From Mike Brown to Mike D'Antoni, Nash was never given a clearly defined role, even though he'd spent his entire career perfecting the art of being the consummate pick-and-roll point guard.
The surprise announcement last July 4 that Nash was a Laker caught most fans by surprise. Just one week prior to that deal, Nash told ESPN Radio New York (via Sporting News) that he wouldn't be comfortable playing for his longtime rivals:
I'm a bit old school. I think for me, it'd be hard to put on a Lakers jersey. That's just the way it is. You play against them so many times in the playoffs, and I just use them as an example. I have the utmost respect for them and the organization, but I think it was Larry Bird (who said) he would never play for them.
That all changed when the Phoenix Suns agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, granting Nash his wish to be closer to his children and play for a championship contender.
But, just two games into the regular season, Nash was injured in a freak play when he bumped knees with Portland Trail Blazers rookie guard Damian Lillard.
Initial reports said Nash would be out for about one week. The injury, a fracture to his left leg, occurred on October 31. Nash didn't return to the lineup for almost seven weeks. He later missed the last eight games of the regular season with a hip injury which caused nerve damage in his right hamstring.
So what can the Lakers expect f...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
