UPDATE (6/22/16):
Manu Ginobili has declined his player option, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports.
Vertical Sources: San Antonio's Manu Ginobili has declined his $2.9M deal for 2016-17, allowing option to expire to enter free agency.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2016
(Original story from 5/26/16)
Manu Ginobili will participate in the 2016 Olympics for Argentina, announced the Argentina Basketball Federation. From ESPN’s Michael C. Wright:
Ginobili made the decision just before San Antonio’s 112-88 win Wednesday night over the Miami Heat and called Argentine coach Sergio Hernandez to inform him he’d be available for the Olympic Games.
“To say that Manu’s availability makes me happy personally is to put it mildly,” Hernandez said. “That is not significant. His was a very brave decision and at the same time very correct, from my point of view. He will be able to end his career with the national team at an Olympic Games. This is the most important news for Argentine sport at this moment. Ginobili is a symbol. Welcome Manu. And now we shall enjoy this.”
Argentina basketball federation (CABB) president Federico Susbielles called Ginobili a key leader for the team.
“We are happy to receive the news,” Susbielles said. “His presence and participation is very important. He has been a decisive leader in our history, and we hope he continues to be in the future.”
He will be playing in the Olympics, but Ginobili is unsure about next season with the Spurs. From Melissa Rohlin:
Manu: "I take the seasons month by month, not season by season. I know I have one more Olympics in me. If I have another season, we’ll see.”
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) March 25, 2016
Ginobili, who will turn 39 in July, probably doesn’t have a long future in basketball. Ginobili struggled with a groin injury this season, which he described as the most painful experience of his career. I would say that there is a chance that he returns for the Spurs next season, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
