Although he said just a week ago that he had no plans to retire after this season, Manu Ginobili wasn't quite so adamant about that stance in a conversation with NBATV's Rachel Nichols. As Marc Weinreich of SI.com writes, Ginobili suggested to Nichols that he'll at least consider the possibility of retiring after the Finals are over.
"I don't know," Ginobili said, when asked whether he would continue his playing career. "I think so. The chances are… yes, I will keep playing and probably with the Spurs. But I'm going to just wait. Once [the Finals are] over in July, I'll sit with my family and think about it and decide."
Ginobili will turn 36 this summer, and isn't under contract beyond this season, so if the Spurs were to beat the Heat to win the 2013 Finals, it might be a good time for the veteran guard to go out on top. Still, despite health problems and declining scoring totals over the past two seasons, Ginobili has still been a key contributor for the Spurs, and clearly has something left in the tank. I'd be surprised if he didn't return, though he'd certainly have to take a paycut after earning $14.11MM in 2012/13.
Ginobili isn't the only veteran Spur who will mull retirement after the Finals. Tracy McGrady said the same thing earlier this week.