EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- When the Los Angeles Lakers snapped their 2014-15 team photo at their practice facility Wednesday, point guard Steve Nash was the only Lakers player on a guaranteed contract absent.

It wasn't much of a surprise. Nash hasn’t been around the team much since being declared out for the season in October because of back injuries.

Except when it comes to working with rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson.

The 41-year-old former two-time MVP reached out in late January, right around the time Lakers star Kobe Bryant suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

“Text me when you want to get in the gym,” Nash said in a text message to Clarkson.

Clarkson, the Lakers’ 2014 second-round pick out of Missouri, entered the starting lineup a day later, and not long after that, Clarkson and Nash began working out together.

The first session focused on studying film. Later workouts emphasized on-the-court work. All told, they've had a half-dozen or so workouts, each lasting a half hour or more.

“Just being able to learn from somebody like that, it’s just a great feeling,” Clarkson said.

In some cases, Clarkson will practice with the Lakers earlier in the day and then return to the facility later that same night to work out with Nash.

“That’s how dedicated he is,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said of Clarkson.

Earlier in the season, Scott said he wanted to give Nash space as this season -- Nash's 19th -- will likely mark his last in the NBA. The Lakers are paying Nash about $9.7 million this season in the final year of a three-year, $28 million deal.

Scott also reported some difficulty in reaching Nash, even over the phone, and expressed his desire for Nash to be around the Lakers' young players.

Eventually, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak started coordinating with Nash, who also communicated with another Lakers staffer.

“I just hear afterwards that they worked, [but] like I said, I love the fact that Steve is working with him,” Scott said.

According to Scott, it's already paying off.

“His passing has gotten much better,” Scott said. “We always talk about the little pocket pass; he’s starting to make that with ease. You start seeing some of the stuff that Steve is talking with him about.

“Sometimes it’s easier to relate to a player like that than it is to us as coaches, because we’re sitting there saying, ‘The pocket pass is open, Jordan the pocket pass is open.’”

Clarkson is averaging 9.4 points per game and 2.5 assists this season, but in 20 games since becoming a starter, those numbers have climbed along with his playing time, to 12.6 points and 4.6 assists. His player efficiency rating for the season is 15.16, right above league average.

He’s also shined in March, averaging 15.2 points, 5.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds in six games while out-playing more-heralded opposing point guards and impressing teammates, coaches and fans.

While Clarkson has certainly matured, he also credits Nash’s tutelage.

“Steve’s been patient,” Clarkson said. “Steve’s been real patient. He comes in with a good attitude. We work. Shoot, he’s almost like one of my boys, coming to the gym and working. He’s just got a little more experience and he knows what he’s doing.”

But those personal sessions appear exclusive to Clarkson. “No invite for me,” Lakers point guard Jeremy Lin said with a smile.

Clarkson said he and Nash worked out together for about a week at the facility in the preseason before toning it down leading into training camp.

Since then, he said Nash has offered one key piece of advice:

“Slow down,” Clarkson said. “That’s it. Just period. Slow down, let the stuff happen. Don’t force it.”

It marks a small contribution, but a meaningful one for not only Clarkson but Nash, who has played in just 65 of a possible 164 regular-season games the past two seasons with the Lakers because of injury troubles.

Though Nash has been working with Clarkson in private, the veteran point guard has still been a no-show at Lakers games, which is all the more obvious now that Bryant is back on the bench at home games despite being out for the season.

Scott said he still would like Nash to attend games, though he's not sure how fans might react.

"I really don’t know," Scott said "I’ve read some of the blogs which I thought were unfair to Steve. But I don’t know if he wants to put himself in that position. I don’t know how they would react. But I know us as an organization would love it."