Manu Ginobili has yet to make any decisions about his future, but he’s seriously weighing the possibility of retiring, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. According to Wojnarowski, Ginobili will meet with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich in the coming days to discuss his future.
Ginobili, who still has one year left on his contract with San Antonio, has been working out at the team’s practice facility in preparation of the 2018/19 season, but has yet to commit to returning, Wojnarowski notes (via Twitter). He has been a Spur since the 2002/03 season, winning four championships during his time with the organization.
If Ginobili does decide to play for another year, he’d be in line for a $2.5MM salary in the final season of the two-year contract he signed with the Spurs last summer. The club remains hopeful that the 41-year-old will decide to keep playing, and is giving him all the time he needs to make a decision, league sources tell Wojnarowski.
Although Ginobili’s best days are behind him, the NBA’s second-oldest player continued to be an effective part-time contributor in 2017/18, averaging 8.9 PPG, 2.5 APG, and 2.2 RPG in 65 regular season contests (20.0 MPG) for the Spurs.
Currently, the Spurs have 14 players on guaranteed salaries on their books, including Ginobili, so if the veteran guard retires, it would create an opening for another player to make the regular season roster.
No Timmy, No Tony, why even come in to work anymore?
Ginobili, Time to Manu up
Hope he comes back, he can show to many guys still how is it done, what a beast of a player he was, real smart & tough. Go Manu, do it once more for all your fans.
Tough, gritty and a world class flopper/weeper. Play another year M.G. you’re part of what makes the league fun.