Is Steve Nash another NBA player to stay past his prime?
This season has been a woeful one for NBA star Steve Nash. Despite having an impressive career behind him, a chronic back injury coupled with his upcoming 40th birthday in February has left Nash’s statistics lingering way below his benchmark.
His numbers have been disappointing, with a field goal percentage of 26% on 12/46 shooting and only five three-pointers at 36% in the six matches he played before being placed on the inactive list. This has made it his second worst ever season in terms of three-point shooting, rivalled only by his 37.4% in 1998-99.
Even more damning are his assists per game statistics, which come in at an average of 4.8. Throughout his 17 previous seasons, Nash has managed to average over 10 assists in seven. This season has seen a distinct lack in his trademark passing, leaving fans to question his value in future seasons.
He has yet to complete 30 minutes on the side and will be out for two weeks following a nerve root irritation in his back. According to IntenseGambling.com, Nash “met with a specialist following [the Lakers’] 113-90 home loss versus the Timberwolves last weekend,” but two years’ worth of injuries has left him playing in the shadow of his former glory.
Despite this though, he is signed to play next season. Alongside fellow Canadian, back-up centre Robert Sacre, Nash has secured a $10 million contract to continue playing in the NBA. It seems he will continue to head out onto the court well past his prime. But the two-time MVP isn’t the only sporting legend to have left retirement too late.
Juwan Howard was the oldest player in the league last season. The 40-year-old has two NBA championships under his belt, both with Miami Heat, and he has played in more than 1,200 games.
But over the past couple of years he has only clocked in 35 games. His performance has been down since the Orlando Magic in 2003-04 and he has only managed to reach double-digit scores once in the past decade. With former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden looking likely to take his place with Heat, it seems like now is an ideal time for Howard to hang up his boots.
Another 40-year-old player who hung on too long was Jason Kidd. Last season Kidd attempted to get a snare in the Big Apple, following his success in Dallas. However, he put in a dismal performance at the end of the season and during the last 10 games of his professional career, he managed to miss 18 shots in a 209-minute period. Now Kidd has said his farewells to the sport and it seems like Nash should follow his example.
