LA Lakers News and Rumors: Steve Nash Could Play Again This Season, Says Mike D’Antoni

Steve Nash has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2013-14 NBA season, but the veteran point guard could still return for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, reports on Wednesday indicated.

Nash has been ruled out for the season due to nerve irritation in his back, but the recent injury that further crippled the Lakers' guard rotation changed head coach Mike D'Antoni's tune.

In an interview with ESPN Los Angeles, D'Antoni revealed that the door remains open for the possible return of Nash after Jordan Farmar went down with a strained right groin, leaving Kendal Marshall as the lone healthy point guard in their roster.

"It's still a possibility," D'Antoni said of Nash's return. "We have to see where he is physically. ... We'll have to see some practices and see how it goes."

Nash has only played in 10 games this season due to an ailing back. The 40-year-old point guard returned to action last month, but exited during their game against the Utah Jazz on Feb. 11, and hasn't played since.

The 18-year veteran recently said that his back is feeling better, but D'Antoni insisted that they still need to see the veteran guard in practice before deciding about a possible comeback.

D'Antoni reiterated that they will not force the two-time Most Valuable Player to play again if he is not fully healthy to avoid aggravating his ailing back.

"Again, we're just trying to get him totally healthy," D'Antoni stressed. "You just don't want to send him out there and play him when he's not healthy. The last time we tried, if you remember, he didn't make it through a game. We can't have him start the game and then at halftime not be able to come out."

Nash averaged 7.6 points and 4.7 assists in 10 games this season, but he has been a shell of his former self.

Nash, who holds a career average of 14.3 points and 8.5 assists, is scheduled to earn $9.7 million in the final year of his contract next season, but rumors indicate that the Lakers could decide to part ways with the aging star this summer.