Steve Nash still at least a month away from return for Lakers

While the Lakers scrambled to deal with a knee injury to Kobe Bryant, point guard Steve Nash made a visit to the facility.

Nash is still dealing with nerve root irritation in his back that will keep him out at least a month more.

“Hopefully that’s a really good timeline where I can get healthy and put my back in a position where it can protect itself and survive,” Nash said.

Nash has been rehabbing in Vancouver while the team struggles on without a healthy point guard.

Nash broke his leg in his second game of last season. Late in the year he struggled with back and hamstring issues that still bother him.

“This has really been something I’ve faced since the end of March,” Nash said. “The toughest thing has been emotionally and mentally. I’ve had a lot of down days.”

The veteran point guard still isn’t sprinting. He’ll continue to work independently until mid-January, when he hopes to test himself again with the team.

“I’m making strides,” Nash said. “The biggest thing is durability.”

Jordan Farmar (hamstring) and Steve Blake (elbow) are also sidelined.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.