Former Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash is now a Los Angeles Laker thanks to a new sign-and-trade deal that will send the free-agent point guard to the Lakers for future draft picks.

But the deal almost didn’t happen according to Nash in a statement to ESPN‘s Marc Stein.

In the statement Nash said he approached Suns owner Robert Sarver and president of basketball operations Lon Babby and asked them to make the trade happen with LA so he could be closer to his children.

“I approached them and asked if they would be willing to do a sign and trade deal with L.A. because it is very important to me to stay near my children and family. They were very apprehensive and didn’t want to do it. Fortunately for me, they reconsidered.”

Nash, who is pushing 40, is still a kid at heart. He stars in a new video titled “NASH, CAMERA, ACTION: Steve Nash “Dark Knight Rises” Parody.”

Nash plays an overweight Batman who begins a training regimen for aging superheroes called “Bat/Sanity.”

Nash, who is hoping to persuade 40-year-old teammate Grant Hill to make the move with him to LA, wants to focus on production and film work when his storied NBA career is over.

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