Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni doesn’t want Steve Nash to retire

Due to his decline from age and injuries, many have called for future Hall-of-Fame and two time league MVP Steve Nash to retire.

However, the 39-year old point guard doesn’t see that happening. In fact, he plans to play next season.

I’m already not the player I want to be and just [have] a different body,” Nash told  Ken Berger of CBS Sports. “My body’s different. I’m still trying to adjust and adapt and get my body to accept a certain amount of the pounding and forces and be able to adjust my game and still be productive. I still feel like I’ve got a lot of life left without basketball so I’m going to try to enjoy it and make the most of these last 18-20 months, whatever it is…”

His head coach agreed.

“There’s always going to be a debate but we’re not going to debate it, talk about it,” Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni told Mike Bresnahan and Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. “He’s going to try to get ready, he’s going to try to play and we’re going to try to win. It’s really simple for us. It’s not real difficult.”

Nash has played in six of the Lakers’ nine games, averaging 6.7 points, 4.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game.