Not only is it going to be awfully strange seeing Steve Nash in Laker purple, it's only going to be multiplied by the number he has on his back.
Nash, who has worn No. 13 his entire career, will wear No. 10 for the Lakers because some guy named Wilt Chamberlain has 13 retired for the franchise.
Why No. 10 though? Because of soccer, via the O.C. Register:
Just like all the great soccer playmakers who’ve come before him and showcased that number on the pitch it’s a fitting choice for Nash, a soccer fanatic and the Lakers’ new point guard, as he comes to center the Lakers’ offense, which struggled late in the season to get the ball to proven scorers Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in easy positions to do damage.
(Bryant, Bynum and Gasol are — appropriately enough — also soccer fans. And Bryant wears No. 10 for USA Basketball, too.)
It certainly makes sense. The world's greatest No. 10 is Lionel Messi and you could draw a reasonable comparison to his and Nash's style of incredible vision, footspeed, ball-handling and playmaking.
No. 10 though isn't one with much history tied to it in Laker lore. Previously wearing it has been Trey Johnson, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lindsey Hunter, Tyronn Lue, Larry Drew, Norm Nixon and Corky Calhoun.
Already, Steve Nash is probably the greatest No. 10 in Laker history. This whole thing is only getting stranger.
