WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash has been sidelined with a recurring back problem and team doctor advised him to quit the upcoming season.

The 40-year-old Canadian would play his 19th NBA season and he has been strongly tipped to retire after the 2014-15 campaign.

Nash has battled numerous injuries since joining the Lakers in July of 2012, appearing in just 65 of a possible 164 regular season games.

Nash ranks third in NBA history with 10,335 assists. His 90.4 percent free throw percentage is the best of all time.