Nash Cancels Vegas Trip

Man, that’s too bad. I was really hoping to see him, Amare, and Marion on the court at the same time at this years all star game. Oh well, as long as he’s back in full shape by the 20th, Suns can finally get back on track.

Steve Nash withdrew from Sunday’s All-Star game because of lingering inflammation in his right shoulder.

The league’s two-time defending MVP has missed the last 3 1/2 games because of the injury. The Phoenix Suns said Monday he won’t play at Seattle on Wednesday night, the club’s last game before the All-Star break.

The decision means Nash will have had two weeks to rest and treat the shoulder before the Suns play their first post-All Star contest Feb. 20 against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

“Steve’s just not ready to play right now. He needs the recovery and rehab time,” coach Mike D’Antoni said in a statement released by the team. “He hasn’t recovered as quickly as we anticipated. Hopefully, he’ll be able to resume play after the All-Star break.”

Nash will attend the All-Star festivities in Las Vegas, the team said.

NBA commissioner David Stern will announce Nash’s replacement. There must also be a substitute for Nash in the NBA Skills Challenge on Saturday. He was to have faced LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade in that competition.

Nash, who turned 33 last Wednesday, was scheduled to play in his fifth All-Star game in the last six years. Although he is averaging career highs in points (19.3) and assists (an NBA-leading 11.8), he was not voted a starter by fans. Instead, he was one of three Phoenix players added as reserves. #