One of the oldest players in the NBA, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has given us over a decade and a half of quality, championship caliber play.
Now 41 years old, Ginobili has been one of the staples in the Spurs’ recent dynasty which featured Tim Duncan and Tony Parker along with a bevy of quality role players and head coach Gregg Popovich. With Duncan and Parker both gone, Ginobili is the lone remaining member of San Antonio’s big three but his time also appears to be approaching a close. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Ginobili is seriously considering retiring prior to this upcoming season.
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, a future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, is seriously considering retirement and plans to meet with coach Gregg Popovich in the coming days to discuss his future, league sources told ESPN.
Ginobili, 41, has been working out regularly at the Spurs’ practice facility and hasn’t made a final decision on the coming season, but sources say that he’s strongly confronting the possible end to an historic 16-season run with the Spurs that includes four NBA championships.
Manu Ginobili is one of only four current NBA players over the age of 40 years along with veterans Vince Carter, Jason Terry, and Dirk Nowitzki. Carter just recently signed a deal to come back for one more season with the Atlanta Hawks while Nowitzki will be returning to the Dallas Mavericks for a record 21st season.
Though Ginobili is still a useful piece off the bench, his age has taken an obvious toll on his play and availability in recent years. The crafty Argentinian was once the NBA’s ultimate x-factor but could be ready to hang it up for good as the Spurs usher in a brand new era.
