Phoenix guard Steve Nash, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player who has missed the past three games with a sore right shoulder, will reportedly not play in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game.

Citing unnamed team sources, ESPN's website said Nash will be kept out of the Suns' game Wednesday at Seattle and will not play in the All-Star Game in Las Vegas or Saturday's Skills Challenge.

That would give the Canadian star two full weeks away from games before the next Suns game, a February 20 game at Los Angeles against the Clippers.

NBA commissioner David Stern will select a replacement on the Western Conference roster for Nash just as he named Carmelo Anthony and Josh Howard to replace injured Chinese star Yao Ming and Carlos Boozer.

Nash was to go against fellow superstars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the Skills Challenge.

Nash has said his shoulder pain is likely related to chronic back problems.
 
(CRI via AFP February 13, 2007)