Lakers’ Steve Nash has a believer in Golden State’s Steve Kerr

Steve Nash missed 64 games last season with recurring nerve damage in his back. Nash played in only 50 games with the Lakers during the 2012-13 season because various injuries kept him sidelined.

Now Nash, in the last of a three-year deal that pays him $9.7 million this season, has maintained that this is his healthiest period since he joined the Lakers in the summer of 2012.

Steve Kerr, the first-year coach of the Golden State Warriors, believes Nash will flourish this season.

“He’s the hardest working guy that I’ve ever seen in the NBA,” Kerr said before the Warriors played the Lakers in an exhibition game Thursday night at Staples Center.

“And I know that Father Time is undefeated and all that stuff. But I just think with Steve, there’s probably karma involved. It’s his final season. That will free him up a little bit emotionally.”

Nash, who didn’t play against the Warriors because Lakers Coach Byron Scott wanted to rest his 40-year-old point guard, and Kerr have a history, when the two were with the Phoenix Suns.

As the general manger of the Suns, Kerr saw how hard Nash worked at keeping his body fit.

And that’s why Kerr believes Nash will have a successful season.

“I know he’s unbelievably well-prepared and conditioned,” Kerr said. “My guess is the basketball gods will shine on him, and he’ll walk away with a pretty good season under his belt.”

Twitter: @BA_Turner