(ARMANDO ARORIZO/STR/QMI Agency)

EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. - In the Los Angeles Lakers' opening pre-season game on Oct.7 against the Golden State Warriors, Steve Nash fed a beautiful pass between an opponent's legs to centre Robert Sacre for an easy layup. Coach Mike Brown said the play made it look as if Sacre, a rookie, had been in the NBA "for three years."

Heading into the 2012-13 season, Nash has recorded 9,916 assists during his NBA career, but few as satisfying as the one he picked up on the play against the Warriors ( for video of this assist, click here).

Like Nash, Sacre is a British Columbia boy and, in a sense, Nash is not only his teammate but his boss.

As general manager of the men's national team, Nash has a vested interest in the seven-footer doing well. And his first order of business is helping Sacre, the 60th pick in the 2012 draft, make the Lakers. Sacre has started the first three pre-season games for L.A. in place of the injured Dwight Howard. So far the reviews have been good. Sacre, 23, has averaged 21.7 minutes, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 7.7 points -- with Nash watching on like a proud father.

"Obviously it's a unique situation," Nash said. "I never thought I'd ever play in the NBA with another player from B.C. It was a lot of fun. We didn't really talk about it, but it was a source of pride for me and I was proud of Robbie for being out there, and he did great."

To read the entire article by Steve Buffery, from the Toronto Sun, click here.

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