NBA News Wire
Lakers want Nash to be mentor
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The Los Angeles Lakers want to keep injured point guard Steve Nash around in a mentor role, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
Nash, 40, has been ruled out from playing this season because of nerve problems in his back. He only played 15 games last season because of injuries.
The Lakers will apply for the disabled-player exception, the Orange County Register reported.
Coach Byron Scott said he would like Nash to remain part of the team in a mentoring role.
“I have some things in mind already if he would like to do that,” Scott said. “I would love to have him around. I think his expertise and experience could help a lot of our young guys.”
It is not clear if Nash will accept such a role. He vowed last season to play one more year before retiring.
General manager Mitch Kupchak said Nash needs to rest his back for the next two weeks.
Nash, third on the all-time list in assists through 19 NBA seasons, is a two-time MVP.
Also, the Lakers waived guard Jabari Brown and forward Roscoe Smith.
Brown, a rookie from Missouri, appeared in four preseason games for Los Angeles, tallying five points, two rebounds and an assist in 22 minutes.
Smith, a rookie from UNLV, saw action in seven of the Lakers’ eight preseason contests, averaging 3.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.
The Lakers roster is at 15 players.
