The Los Angeles Lakers are facing all kinds of problems recently, from the attention drawn by ESPN's 'fire-back' article on Kobe Bryant to Steve Nash's season-ending back injury.
And what if the Lakers pulled off this earth-shaking deal over a decade ago? These and more in the Lakers daily dime!
Steve Nash Out For the Season: Former two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash has been announced out for the entire 2014-15 NBA season due to recurring problems in his back.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchack revealed Nash, who is playing the final year of his contract with the Lakers, is now focusing on his long-term health without detailing Nash's retirement plan or would they ever attempt to resign the playmaker if he's healthy next summer.
In a press release, the 40-year old Nash sounded very frustrated about dealing another setback in his full recovery, but he also seems optimistic on extending his professional basketball career beyond his current age.
"Being on the court this season has been my top priority and it is disappointing to not be able to do that right now," Nash said in a news release. "I work very hard to stay healthy and unfortunately my recent setback makes performing at full capacity difficult.
"I will continue to support my team during this period of rest, and will focus on my long-term health."
History Shows Don't Count out the Mamba That Easy: More than 10 years ago, former Lakers head coach made a bold attempt to trade Kobe Bryant to Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion because of his locker room problem.
As expected, Jerry West replied with another bold answer. He said No to that trade proposal, believing Bryant has the tools to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. And as everybody knows by now, the rest is history.
"It was not the first time Jackson requested the team trade Bryant. He sought to trade him to the Phoenix Suns for Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion in the 1999-00 season. But then-general manager Jerry West told Jackson that owner Jerry Buss would never trade the Laker star, he wrote in his diary. Jackson said he was told the same thing last season," via the Associated Press.
In the wake of ESPN's blatant effort to close down the curtain of Bryant's career, there's a piece in history that tells an adage that seems to never get old - Don't count out the Mamba.
At 36-years old and entering his 19th NBA season, Bryant has a lot of questions to answer in a season full of uncertainly for the purple-and-gold. Then again, Kobe will always have under his sleeve to prove critics wrong.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
