Steve Nash announces retirement from NBA

"I'm retiring."

So begins Steve Nash's letter, published on Saturday via The Players' Tribune.

"Obviously, I value my kids and my family more than the game, but in some ways having this friend — this ever-present pursuit — has made me who I am, taught me and tested me, and given me a mission that feels irreplaceable. I am so thankful. I've learned so many invaluable lessons about myself and about life. And of course I still have so much to learn. Another incredible gift."

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Nash, 41, is an eight-time NBA All-Star and two-time league MVP who has racked up the third-most assists in league history over a 19-year career. But the point guard had struggled with injuries in recent seasons, sitting out the 2014-15 season with recurring nerve issues in his back and telling TSN Radio 1040 earlier in March that "the NBA game is just a touch too far for me."