If you are one of the many, many people who have criticized him for his inability to remain healthy and refusal to retire, then he specifically would love to shut you up.
In the third installment of Grantland's The Finish Line—a short series detailing Nash's fight for NBA survival—we find the 40-year-old point guard reflecting on his latest setback.
Throughout the episode, clips of various people questioning his pride are played as a reminder that Nash isn't just going up against Father Time. He's battling fans and pundits, too.
"You have a lot of people that are just—you know, want to just say you're trash," Nash says.
Those are people Nash would love to silence.
"That's not my primary source of motivation, to show everybody. My primary source of motivation is to get out there because I love the game," he admits. "But it would be nice to shut some people up."
Of course it would be. Part of me wants to shut them up, too.
There's no denying how disappointing Nash's tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers has been. I've even argued their future does not and cannot include him.
But to question his pride and commitment to the organization is inane.
Maybe him retiring saves the Lakers a few bucks, but this is a man's career we're talking about. If he still feels he can contribute, if he still feels he can have one last hurrah, we cannot fault his defiance.
Criticism, though, reached an all-time high when Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles, revealed Nash's latest comeback attempt would be put on hold:
Mike D'Antoni says he "doubts" Steve Nash plays again this season, but wouldn't rule him out
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 3, 2014 Having already appeared in 10 games, Nash is no longer eligible fo...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
