2-time NBA MVP Steve Nash retires

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash has announced his retirement after a 19-year NBA career that included two MVP awards.

The 41-year-old Canadian made the announcement today in a letter on The Players’ Tribune, a website where he is a senior producer.

Nash played in just 65 games over the last three seasons with the Lakers due to injuries.

A persistent back problem prevented him from playing at all this season. His announcement was a long-expected formality.

Nash won MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 in Phoenix during a dominant stretch as the catalyst for the Suns’ up-tempo offense.

The eight-time All-Star is third in NBA history with 10,335 assists, trailing only John Stockton and Jason Kidd. Nash also is the best free-throw shooter in NBA history at 90.4 percent.