Steve Nash writes open letter to Lakers fans about his back injury

Steve Nash wrote an open letter to Lakers fans regarding the state of his health and the news regarding a recent re-aggravated back injury, which will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season.

Steve Nash wrote an open letter to Lakers fans regarding the state of his health and the news regarding a recent re-aggravated back injury, which will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season.

In the letter posted on Nash's Facebook page, the veteran point guard described the difficulty and pain he has faced over the last two seasons, stating he "understand[s] why some fans are disappointed."

I have a ton of miles on my back. Three budging disks (a tear in one), stenosis of the nerve route and spondylolisthesis. I suffer from sciatica and after games I often can't sit in the car on the drive home, which has made for some interesting rides. Most nights I'm bothered by severe cramping in both calves while I sleep, a result of the same damn nerve routes, and the list goes on somewhat comically. That's what you deserve for playing over 1,300 NBA games. By no means do I tell you this for sympathy - especially since I see these ailments as badges of honor - but maybe I can bring some clarity.

Earlier this week, Nash, a two-time MVP, came under fire from Lakers fans after he posted a video of him swinging a golf club. 

"This may be hard for people to understand unless you've played NBA basketball, but there is an incredible difference between this game and swinging a golf club, hiking, even hitting a tennis ball or playing basketball at the park," Nash wrote in the letter. "Fortunately those other activities aren't debilitating, but playing an NBA game usually puts me out a couple of weeks... "

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Over the last two seasons, the 40-year-old point guard has played just 65 games due to injuries. Nash arrived in Los Angeles via a sign-and-trade deal with Phoenix in 2012.

You can read the entire letter below.

I definitely don't want to be a distraction, but I felt it best everyone heard from me in my own words. I have a ton of...

Posted by Steve Nash on Friday, November 7, 2014

-- Alex Suskind