After 1st preseason game, Steve Nash says he's feeling good, moving freely

Kobe Bryant isn't the only Los Angeles Laker looking to prove he's got something left in the tank. Forty-year-old point guard Steve Nash has played in just 65 games for the Lakers since signing a three-year, $28 million contract with the team in 2012 (and just 15 last season), but he's determined to put his recent injury problems behind him and make the most of this year, which he's said will be his last in the NBA.

"It felt great to be back out there," Nash said after the Lakers first preseason game on Monday, a 98-95 win over the Denver Nuggets in which he scored 11 points (on 4-of-8 shooting) and dished five assists in 20 minutes. "Obviously for me it's been a long two years so just to be out there and feel pretty free, it was nice." 

"I still I think have some adaptation to go through but overall I feel in pretty good shape, and most importantly I feel like I'm moving pretty freely, which allows me to execute and make some plays. Hopefully I can continue to build on it."

Nash started the game alongside Bryant, the first time the pair has started together since March of 2013, and both were enthusiastically complimentary of each other afterwards.

"It was real easy," Bryant said. "It’s extremely effortless to play with him. You get the ball to him and run and let him make decisions. We can do a lot in the two-man game so it’s pretty easy."

Said Nash: "Kobe made some shots; it was great to see a lot of his patented tough fadeaways... I thought it was a great first step for him. He looks like he's gonna round into a pretty decent ballplayer here."