Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

DENVER – The newest member of the Pistons was saddened by the news out of Los Angeles earlier this week.

Center Joel Anthony, recently obtained from the Boston Celtics, is a native of Montreal and is a proud Canadian.

The face of Canadian basketball, point guard Steve Nash, is facing a doubtful future because he will miss the season because of chronic back problems. So the two-time league MVP could be thinking retirement at the age of 40.

If indeed it’s Nash’s swan song, Anthony remembers when Nash started to make a name in the pros. When Anthony was growing up in Montreal, Nash’s popularity had a major impact.

“I just remember how big it was for us Canadians,” Anthony said Wednesday before the Pistons season opener against the Nuggets. “We were all so proud for the fact that there was a Canadian out there in the NBA, playing, doing well, being successful.

“It was huge for us to be able to have that because he gave you such pride.”

Anthony realized the global impact of Nash when he was in the Canadian national team program.

“He’s the ambassador,” Anthony said. “When people think basketball, they think Steve Nash. I played for the national team for a lot of years and even when Steve was nowhere near around and he was just focused on his NBA career, we’d go to other countries and people would still ask everywhere — whether it was in Canada or outside in Europe — everyone was asking about Steve Nash. Where’s Steve Nash? When people see Canada and see basketball that’s the person they think of.

“The way he’s been able to represent the country — both at the international level and the professional level in the NBA — it was remarkable. He’s been and always will be the face of Canadian basketball.”

Anthony hopes Nash is able to return.

“If it is true, it’s unfortunate,” Anthony said. “For him to go out with an injury is tough and everything he’s done, obviously the body of work he can look back and be proud of. He will definitely go down as the greatest Canadian basketball player.”

■ RARE AIR: Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy scoffed at the perception that it’s tough to play in Denver because of the altitude.

Players routinely say the lack of oxygen causes fatigue. Van Gundy isn’t buying it.

“I took exercise physiology in college and I always tell these guys don’t get caught up in the myth,” Van Gundy said. “It’s BS. It’s not enough of an altitude to make a difference.

“They’ve done a great job in all the sports in Denver of perpetrating that for years and it’s worked and it’s gotten in players’ minds.”

■ MARTIN UPDATE: Free-agent pickup Cartier Martin missed the game against the Nuggets because of a plantar fascia strain in his right foot.

He joined Jodie Meeks (back) on the inactive last. Luigi Datome was going to be inactive before Martin’s injury cropped up.

Greg Monroe, serving a two-game suspension for a DUI conviction, is on the active roster. League rules dictate for punishments of less than five games, suspended players must be on the active roster.

Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.