Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash this week played down talks about his retirement, which were fueled by his current medical condition preventing him from contributing to the team.

Nash, who is currently on the sidelines for the Lakers as he recovers from nerve irritation and hamstring injury, said that he doesn't know who started the rumor suggesting that he is seriously considering retirement.

When asked if he is thinking about ending his career soon, Nash said that he is not considering retirement at all, reiterating that he is focused on the remaining final "18 months" of his contract.

"Not at all, I don't know where that came from," Nash said in an interview with Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "For me, I realize I have about 18 months left of basketball. I want the most out of this that I can possibly get. I don't know if that's going to be one game or the vast majority of what's left. But I've got a long life without basketball so I don't want to give in too soon. I want to try to make the most of this opportunity to play, if I can."

The 39-year-old point guard, who is the oldest player in the league this season, said that he is not surprised with the retirement rumor, saying that at his age, people are wondering whether or not he still has the motivation to be at his best in every game.

"I'm 40 in a couple of months," Nash said. "I think people look at the success I've had in my career and they wonder if I still have the motivation just to get on the court. But I do. The perspective is that I've only got a short window of basketball left in my life. I want to try to get in as much hoops as I can before it's time to do something else."

Nash averaged just 6.7 points and 4.8 assists in his first six games for the Lakers this season.