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AP: d5163312-e4cd-4231-a36e-7b3d25019371
Newly-acquired Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash holds up his new jersey during a news conference at the team's headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Wednesday, July 11, 2012. The Lakers acquired two-time MVP Nash from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for first round draft picks in 2013 and 2015 as well as second round draft picks in 2013 and 2014. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Jared Dudley harbors no ill will towards Steve Nash.

Teammates since December 2008, the Suns swingman knows how much the two-time MVP has helped him develop as a person and as a player.

However, when the Suns meet the Lakers for the first time next season, all that will go out the window.

"What he's done for the franchise, I'm not mad at that at all because he deserves that," he told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf Wednesday of Nash leaving for Los Angeles. "But now we've got to try and kill him."

Sounds about right.

The Suns and Lakers are bitter rivals, and just because Nash is well-respected does not mean everyone wants to see L.A. do well.

"You know what it comes down to, for one, we can't stand the Lakers, you know the rivalry," he said. "Before I even got to the Suns I didn't like the Lakers."

Dudley said he grew up a Bulls fan so the rivalry was already there, but things are understandably different now.

listen Listen: Jared Dudley Suns' Forward
Jared talks about the Steve Nash trade. How the Suns are moving forward with Nash. Is Jared the new face of the Suns?
"You wanted the best for [Nash], but once the ball goes up you're looking to win, and you're looking to win not only for your own teammates, but for your city," he said. "We know there's bad blood between us, and it probably just got a little bit worse with the trade."

The NBA's 2012-13 schedule has not been released yet, but you better believe the Suns will put a big circle around their first matchup with the Lakers.

5 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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    bonedoc wrote...
    Sad but true...
    July 12, 2012 12:24 pm
    I've been a Suns fan since Alvin Adams. There was nothing better than watching Mark West and the gang put an abrupt END to "Showtime". This is a different Suns franchise since Sarver took over, and its sad to say, but they just don't put up the same fight that the Colangelo-led teams used to. I'll consider this "rivalry" a rivalry again when someone with the last name Colangelo picks up the sword they dropped and finally leads this city to glory! Go Mercury...
  • Abuse
    diehardcard wrote...
    Kids are a cop-out.
    July 12, 2012 5:52 pm
    Don't buy the lies. Nash had 5 options: Phoenix, Toronto, NY, Miami, or LA. He wanted to go to a place where he could get paid AND have a shot at a title. He made both of those desires very clear. Phoenix has no shot at a title but could pay him, same as Toronto- they're out. NY and Miami could compete, but couldn't pay him. Only place that he could get both was LA.
  • Abuse
    diehardcard wrote...
    Kids are a cop-out 2
    July 12, 2012 5:55 pm
    But he needed the Suns to help him make it happen. That's why he BEGGED the Suns to send him there. He didn't care about the fans or the rivalry or anything else, they didn't matter next to his desire to earn money and win a title. The kids are just a convenient excuse to hide his lack of respect for the fans and the franchise. He's a scumbag for using his kids to shield his own callous selfishness.
  • Abuse
    Merrick M. wrote...
    Lack of Respect?
    July 13, 2012 5:41 am
    Saying Nash has a lack of respect toward the fans, the franchise, and calling him a scumbag is ludicrous. Nash has been one of the most classiest players to ever wear a Suns uniform. How can we bash him for going to a rival? It's a business and he deserves a ring. Thank you Nash for giving us some exciting Suns basketball to watch over the years. Sorry Kerr ruined your chance at winning a title here. I will still rout for Nash, even if he gets a ring with LA Lakers on the side of it.
  • Abuse
    the cooker wrote...
    Get over it
    July 13, 2012 12:46 pm
    What is with all of the hatred? It is not like the Suns are primed to win it all next year even with Nash & Hill. I wonder how many of the haters would not change jobs for a better opportunity & more money?
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