Steve Nash explains injury to Lakers fans

Nash has been ruled out for the season due to a back injury, but is still enjoying physical activity as fans took offence to him hitting a golf ball at a driving range.

The 40-year-old said the criticism was unfair.
"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 on Facebook.

"Once you're asked to accelerate and decelerate with Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving it is a completely different demand."

Nash also detailed the ailments that have limited him to just 65 games throughout his three-year Los Angeles tenure, citing his three bulging disks (including a tear in one), stenosis of the nerve route and spondylolisthesis.

The Lakers have allowed Nash to remain away from the team, but general manager Mitch Kupchak and coach Byron Scott hope he will return and serve as a mentor to the younger players.

"Hopefully he can come out here and help us out a little bit," Scott said earlier in the week.

"That's totally up to Steve. You have to give him space. But I'll definitely try to reach out to him this week."