National Basketball Association

Nash says he is staying with Suns

Published Jun. 23, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Steve Nash downplayed the never-ending rumors of him coming to the Knicks and the recent reports of him possibly being traded to Minnesota, the New York Post reported Thursday.

The Suns point guard may spend his offseasons living in lower Manhattan, but he insisted he will spend this season, and possibly several more, playing in Phoenix.

"I have a contract with the Suns. If I were to be moved, I could go anywhere, but I don't even consider that. I feel like I'm going to be in Phoenix this year and hopefully beyond," according to Nash, 37, who was in his home neighborhood of SoHo on Wednesday to promote his Showdown in Chinatown charity soccer event.

Nash deflected questions about signing with the Knicks after his contract expires next summer.

"Right now I'm just focused on Phoenix," he said. "Hopefully this year is better than last, and then I'll be ready to keep playing in Phoenix if we can continue to build the team and get back to where we were two years ago, fighting for a championship."

With former Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni and ex-Sun Amar'e Stoudemire -- and quiet concerns about Chauncey Billups -- the Knicks had internal discussions about acquiring Nash, who fanned the flames in an interview last year with David Letterman.

Minnesota discussed a possible swap, dangling Thursday's No. 2 overall pick. Suns president Lon Babby called a Phoenix radio station Wednesday and said, "I have said it a zillion times. We are not trading Steve Nash."

Nash has one year left on his deal for $11.7 million.

"They've told me plenty of times they don't want to move me, so I don't think they need to call me every day on every rumor," he said. "I don't read the papers. I usually hear from people in the street I'm coming to the Knicks or going to Minnesota. It's all paper talk."

Portland and Orlando also have reportedly tried to deal for Nash.

Of the labor unrest and possible lockout, Nash said, "We all are staying abreast of the situation and trying to [stay positive], hoping we can come to a conclusion. But it's not easy."

Read more . . .