Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash will not play in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 18 due to inflammation in his right shoulder that has forced him to miss the last three and a half games. Nash will also miss Wednesday’s game at Seattle.

The two-time defending NBA MVP was voted to his fifth All-Star team (and his third with Phoenix) on Feb. 1 along with teammates forward Shawn Marion and center Amaré Stoudemire. Nash also will not participate in the NBA’s Playstation® Skills Challenge, but will be in attendance for All-Star Weekend activities in Las Vegas.

“Steve’s just not ready to play right now. He needs the recovery and rehab time,” said Suns Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager/Head Coach Mike D’Antoni. “He hasn’t recovered as quickly as we anticipated. Hopefully, he’ll be able to resume play after the All-Star break.”

Phoenix’s first game after the All-Star break is versus the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 20 at the STAPLES Center. Nash has not played since the first half of the Suns-Nuggets game on Feb. 5.

Nash, 33, is averaging career-highs of 19.3 points and 11.8 assists, the most in the NBA since John Stockton (12.3 in 1994-95), in 46 games played this season. The 6-3, 178-pound playmaker is on pace to become the first NBA player to average over 19 points and 11 assists in a single season since Magic Johnson and former Sun Kevin Johnson did it in 1989-90.