Manu Ginobili has reportedly decided to retire from the NBA after this year's season. He just sent his notice of resignation to the Argentine's basketball team.
Aside from playing with the Argentinians, Ginobili is also more than decade old NBA veteran. Unlike many of his NBA peers, he has only played and stayed one team which is the San Antonio Spurs since 2002. On August 17, Argentina clashed with the U.S. basketball team in Rio. Interestingly, Ginobili played for the Argentinians in the Rio Olympics. But that did not seem to bother the Americans playing against one of their own NBA peers.
He re-signed up again with the Spurs this July 2016 but there were rumors then that Ginobili was having second thoughts of coming back. Now there are speculations that the 2016-2017 season is possibly the last for Ginobili, according to Sportsrageous.
Such rumor is not hard to discount considering Ginobili's age. He is only one shy year away from his 40th birthday. The numerous injuries he incurred throughout his entire basketball career seemed to have caught up with him.
Despite his age and numerous injuries, the San Antonio Spurs is confident enough to give him $14 million for one more season with them. Michael Erler from SB Nation, however, insists that the 2016-2017 season is Ginobili's last. His recent retirement notice with the Argentina basketball team is clear indication of that according to Erler.
In case the retirement rumors are true, Ginobili will leave a lasting legacy in the NBA. He was with the Spurs when the team won four titles. He also got himself included in the 2005 and 2007 NBA All-Star awards.
But then again Manu Ginobili may yet decide to play again in the 2017-2018 season or even beyond that. Provided, of course, that he is still healthy enough to play when that time comes.
