By MARC BERMAN
Steve Nash had a whopping 19 assists tonight but was somehow outplayed by Nate Robinson and Chris Duhon down the stretch in tonight’s statement win by the Knicks.
Makes you wonder if Nash, at 37, is going to be still playing at a high level in 2010. Nash scored just 9 points and didn’t shoot the ball enough or play defense. After talking to Steve at shootaround this morning at the Garden, you get the feeling this is where he wants to finish out his career – at the Garden.
In an interview with The Post at the morning shootaround, Nash said more than he has before on his 2010 future. While remaining with the Suns is still a possibility, the two-time MVP said he would have to consider the Knicks when he becomes a free agent.
“It’s so far away, it’s tough to think about it right now,” Nash told me after being the last Sun off the court after the Garden shootaround. “It’s a year and a half from now. A lot of things can happen. It’s nothing more than great speculation.”
“But New York speaks for itself,” Nash added. “The Knicks are a storied franchise. Obviously, the mecca of basketball. There are a lot of positives (signing there). I love the city. Obviously, I have a great relationship with Mike D’Antoni. At the same time, I’ve built a home and career in Phoenix. so the first option is to get this team where it needs to be. And that may entail being here long-term.”
Or it may not. Nash, who turns 36 next month and will be 37 in the summer of 2010, is right that a lot of things can happen. If the Knicks can sign Jason Kidd for the mid-level exception this summer, that would likely torpedo the chances of Nash reuniting with D’Antoni.
But Dallas owner Mark Cuban is not averse to overpaying and the Knicks’ bid for Kidd may be derailed. Kidd and Nash are perfect for D’Antoni’s speedball attack, but certainly D’Antoni would prefer Nash since he’s proven he can master it.
Nash, meanwhile, can’t speak enough about the enjoyment he has living here in the offseason, in TriBeca. He plays for two recreational soccer teams, playing in one league on Pier 40. He attends Broadways plays twice a summer. His wife, Alejandra, loves the city, and they have two twin girls, Lola and Bella.
“If you’re into a beautiful cultural city, a lot of diversity, great restaurants, tons of things to do, this is it,” said Nash, who appeared on Conan O’Brien Tuesday night. “The whole world is outside your front door.”
—
Stephon Marbury emailed me tonight after reports in Greece stating the owners of Olympiacos of Greece have interest in not only signing him, but giving him $15 million. Of course Stephon is intrigued.
“I will listen to what they have to say,” Marbury wrote in an email. “I will never close the door that has not been opened.”
Donnie Walsh said there’s legitimacy to the Greece’s interest and Knicks brass seems excited about the prospect of potentially being off the hook financially for much of Marbury’s salary. Hal Biagas of the Players’ Association said he is planning to speak to the Greek owners. This is not quite like the Real Madrid hoax when Swiss investors claimed to represent Real Madrid and contacted Marbury about a contract. Marbury is interested in the international exposure because it would help his Starbury sneaker/apparel cologne line that’s debuting on Amazon.com on Feb. 2.