Lakers Schedule, Roster, Trade Rumors & News: Steve Nash Hurts Back; To Miss Utah Jazz Preseason Game

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash will not participate in the game against the Utah Jazz on Thursday as he hurt his back while carrying bags inside his home in Manhattan Beach.

The 40-year-old NBA player, according to Fox Sports, will have to sit out his back first and miss the Thursday's preseason game.

Coach Byron Scott said that Nash could be suffering from back spasm. "Steve, today, kind of hurt his back. He had a little bit of a setback, just kind of carrying some bags or something. He [felt] a twinge in his back," Scott explained. He added that it is still unknown until when Nash will be out of the games.

Considered as one of the oldest players in the NBA, Nash has already suffered from a series of injuries in the past seasons including back, knee and hamstring concerns. Fox Sports said that he was only able to play in 15 games last seasons because of a nerve root irritation.

To take the place of Nash, Scott said that Jeremy Lin could be the starting point guard for the team. Lin also suffered from a sprained ankle but he was already seen practicing last Wednesday.

"I have no doubt in my mind that if I went to Steve and said tomorrow, 'You know what, I'm going to start Jeremy and the games that you're available, we're going bring you off the bench,' he's such a professional that I don't think it would be a problem whatsoever," the Lakers coach added.

With this news, Lin told the Los Angeles Times that it would be an honor for him to start for the team but he found it hard to say the exact words as he noted that he has been watching Nash play in the NBA since he was a teenager.

"Just talking to him, he wants to be healthy, he wants to enjoy what is probably his last year and I would want them for him as well. But at the end of the day, whatever position [Scott] calls me to, or whatever it is, I'm going to do my best," Lin said.

In a separate report, Los Angeles Times also said that the present condition of the veteran player has already become a concern for Scott and noted that the team could have waived Nash and sign Carmelo Anthony instead.

"There's some concern. From my standpoint, I've got to kind of figure out if he's going to be able to play every day or not. Or if he's going to be able to play every other game. Or which games can he play? Obviously in the next couple of weeks, we've got some time to come to a conclusion on how we're going to handle this whole situation," Scott told the Los Angeles Times.