That is right! Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash of the Lakers will try out with Inter Milan soccer team in Italy. Nash hopes to participate in the Guinness International Champions Cup tournament, where eight club teams from around the world compete, with a winner to be crowned in Miami on Aug. 7.
Why the interest? Well, the Lakers PG has always loved the game of soccer. Growing up, Nash played soccer, ice hockey, and rugby. It wasn’t until he was 12 that he started to play basketball. Nash’s younger brother, Martin Nash, played soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and made 30 appearances for the Canadian national soccer team. The boys’ younger sister also played the sport. Nash is an avid soccer fan; he chose the No. 10 to pay homage to Glenn Hoddle, Zinedine Zidane and other soccer players with the same number. He is also an investor in Women’s Professional Soccer, a soccer league that was launched in March 2009, as well as a part owner in the Vancouver Whitecaps. Let’s also not forget his summer Showdown event this year. I’d say futbol is as much in his blood as basketball.
It appears that Odom is finally warming up to the idea of returning to the Lakers after he and Kupchak spoke a few weeks ago. Odom has made a decision to stay in L.A. whether that be for the Lakers of Clippers. But the Purple and Gold are having second thoughts; the team isn’t so sure what Lamar can bring to the table.
LeBron James is currently in Manila for a promotional event for Nike Philippines, and to no one’s surprise, has already been compared to Kobe. However, the Philippines aren’t too fond of LeBron and praise Kobe for his efforts to connect with fans. James has been said to not be outgoing and he apparently refuses to take pictures or sign autographs with the fans. It’s no surprise that Kobe is the most popular athlete in Asia because there is mutual respect. After all, Kobe Bryant does have a statue in Asia.
Unfortunately, in the USA, LeBron James surpassed Bryant as the NBA’s most popular player by a slight margin this past season. Nearly 13 percent (12.9) of NBA fans said James was their favorite player, allowing him to overcome Kobe Bryant (12.5) for the first time since the 2008-2009 season. Kevin Durant was third in voting at 3.6 percent. After that, Derrick Rose (2.8 percent) and Dwyane Wade (2.6 percent), rounded out the top five.
Check out the Lakers Nation roundtable where our writers discussed which new Laker will help the team the most. It was unanimous; Nick Young jumped to the top of everyone’s list. Check out the post to see our reasons why, and offer your suggestions in our Forum or in the comments.
Continue to stay geared up throughout the summer with the newest Laker merchandise. Here are some cool items around the web that you should check out and consider purchasing to show everyone your Laker pride! Also, be sure to head over to our store and get some of our items!
Lakers Nation News
Source: Steve Nash Set to Try Out with Inter Milan Soccer Team
Lebron James Passes Kobe Bryant As NBA’s Most Popular Player
Lakers News: Lamar Odom Warming Up to Signing with the Lakers
Andrew Goudelock Signs A One-Year Deal With BC UNICS In Russia
Lakers News: Fans Praise Kobe After LeBron’s Manila Tour
Lakers Nation Roundtable: Which New Laker Will Help The Most
Lakers News & Rumors Recap: We Meet Again, Dwight
Lakers News
Worrying About Kobe Bryant’s Miraculous Recovery [Silver Screen and Roll]
Jordan Farmar Now Has the Team He Wants and the Situation He Wants [Silver Screen and Roll]
Farmar Says He’s Back Where He Belongs with Lakers [OC Register]
Former Laker Andrew Goudelock Signs one-Year Deal to Play in Russia [Inside the Lakers]
Steve Nash Expects Kobe Bryant to Exceed Expectations Post-Injury [Lakers Now]
For Lakers and Kobe Bryant, Next Summer is the Dream Season [LA Times]
5-on-5: Lakers the West’s Big Wild Card? [ESPN]
Ding: Dwight Howard Wants Only to Hear Himself Roar [OC Register]
Los Angeles Lakers: Why Pau Gasol Has Everything to Prove in 2013-14 [Yahoo! Sports]
Kobe Bryant Holding Meet & Greet to Fight Homelessness [Inside the Lakers]
Lakers first take on Howard, Rockets on Nov. 7 open against Clippers [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers Open Oct. 29 vs. Clippers, Face Howard, Rockets on Nov. 7 [OC Register]
Former Laker Adam Morrison to Join Gonzaga Coaching Staff [Lakers Now]
NBA News
Report: Derek Fisher Plans to Retire After Upcoming Season [ProBasketballTalk]
Knicks Re-Sign F Kenyon Martin [Yahoo! Sports]
What’s Left for Eastern Conference Teams To Do This Offseason? [CBSSports.com]
Coach K: More Scrutiny With U.S. Team Than at Duke [USA Today]
Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond Size Up Pistons’ Future After Josh Smith Signing [The Point Forward]
Magic Sign G Price to Beef Up Backcourt [Yahoo! Sports]
NBA Hopes to Have HGH Testing in Place by Start of Next Season [CBSSports.com]
Matt Barnes, Nate Robinson Among Understated Free-Agent Hits [SI.com]
This is the Most Patriotic Dunk You Will See [For the Win]
Progress Reports on Injured Stars [Hang Time Blog]
10-Year Limit for Madison Square Garden Approved [Yahoo! Sports]
Kyrie Irving of Cleveland Cavaliers Stars in USA Basketball Exhibition [ESPN]
LeBron James picking music for NBA 2K14 [ProBasketballTalk]
All Signs Positive For Rose [The Rotation]
Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday guide new-look Pelicans into future [The Point Forward]
Derrick Rose Says Derrick Rose Is NBA’s Best [NBA.com]
Who Made the Right Moves in the Western Conference? [ESPN]
Who Made the Right Moves in the Eastern Conference? [ESPN]
New Sixers CEO Apologizes for Andrew Bynum Debacle, Preaches Patience [ProBasketballTalk]
Toronto Raptors Hire New Assistant Coaches [Yahoo! Sports]
What’s Left for Western Conference Teams to Do This Offseason? [CBSSports.com]
Marcus Smart Plans to Declare for 2014 NBA Draft [USA Today]
Kyrie Irving Graces Cover of NBA Live 14 [SI.com]
Metta World Peace Says He Plans to Change His Name Again [ProBasketballTalk]
N.B.A. No Longer Sits Out the Summer [NYTimes.com]
Report: Adam Morrison Returning to Gonzaga as Student Assistant [USA Today]
Andrew Bynum Brings Outrageous Hair to Cleveland [For the Win]
Karl Malone Thought the Jazz Threw Him a Birthday Parade Before He Even Played for Them (They didn’t) [ProBasketballTalk]
In a Changed N.B.A., Two Differing Steps in Texas [NYTimes.com]
Team USA — Who makes the roster? [ESPN]
The Voice of Summer League [TrueHoop Blog]