As he heads into unrestricted free agency on Sunday, Steve Nash says he’s “open to everything,” including potentially playing for the Knicks.
“It sounds like a company line, but my situation really right now is I’m open to everything,” Nash told ESPN NewYork 98.7’s Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco on Monday, according to ESPN.com, “and I will definitely look at every situation that comes my way on Sunday, and I’m not going to close myself to any opportunities.”
Nash lives in Greenwich Village during the offseason and is in the city on Wednesday night to promote his annual soccer charity match in Chinatown.
He said he would have no problem potentially playing with Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, whom the team hopes to re-sign.
“I wouldn’t have any fear of the fans maybe having a love affair with Jeremy,” Nash said. “I think it’s great. … That doesn’t really bother me.”
Nash, 38, believes he has three good years left and is expected to be pursued by the Knicks, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and possibly the Brooklyn Nets if they can’t re-sign Deron Williams.
“The truth is I’m a bit old school. For me, it would be hard to put on a Lakers jersey. That’s just the way it is,” Nash said. “You play against them so many times in the playoffs, and I just use them as an example, and I have the utmost respect for them and their organization.
“I kind of have that tendency (to try to beat the best teams), so it is strange, but as a free agent you’re free to go where you want, so I’d have to consider everything regardless of the past or the future.”
Nash’s comments are similar to those of veteran Jason Kidd, who has also said he would consider playing for the Knicks or Nets.
“It’s a possibility, I wouldn’t rule that out, to come back here to New York to finish my career out,’’ Kidd told the New York Post of the Knicks. “I want to win a championship, so we’ll see what happens.’’
Kidd played with Knicks center Tyson Chandler in Dallas and thinks highly of him.
“Being a teammate of Tyson’s and understanding what he brings to the table every night, it can only help,’’ Kidd said. “He’s a great guy. I love Tyson. He was one of my favorite teammates. He had a heck of a year. We missed him in Dallas.’’
If Williams re-signs with the Nets, Kidd wouldn’t mind being a backup.
“I don’t mind backing him up, he’ll make my job easy,’’ Kidd said. “He’s young, he doesn’t need but 5-8 minutes of rest, so I can handle that job. If I had to play in the same backcourt with him, he can carry me.’’
