IBIZA, Spain – In a personal blog, Manu Ginobili finally speaks out on why he decided to return to the San Antonio Spurs for his 16th season with the team after many speculated he might retire this year.
On Thursday, the Spurs star shared his column he wrote via his Twitter account saying, “Some reflections and comments after the news yesterday.”
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The news Ginobili is referring to is when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski sent out a report shared Tuesday via Twitter: "Manu Ginobili and the Spurs are finalizing details of his imminent return for a 16th NBA season, league sources tell ESPN."
🇦🇷Seguiré vistiendo la #20 un tiempito más!! #sigaelbaile #elpibede40
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) July 19, 2017
🇺🇸Back with the @Spurs for another season #thrilled #youngat40
The following day, the four-time NBA champion tweeted, “Back with the Spurs for another season #thrilled #youngat40.”
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In a blog shared to Argentine newspaper La Nacion's website, Ginobili, in Spanish but translated to English, said he had talked to Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich before going on vacation and that Pop told him he wanted him to back for another year.
Algunas reflexiones y comentarios después de la noticia de ayer:https://t.co/xdom3iCd1v
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) July 20, 2017
Ginobili said he didn’t feel like Pop was trying to convince him but felt that he was simply sharing what he was thinking about the three-time NBA All-Star contemplating retirement.
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"I accepted, because it is a great honor to be in such a franchise at 40 years old, feeling important, with people who tell me that they love me, and that I am still important to the team,” Ginobili wrote in his blog.
“On the other hand, if I retired and took a year, I would not be able to compete again at 41. I feel that I made the right decision, which everyone recommended, because none of my friends told me "now, hang, relax And enjoy other things. " – Manu Ginobili
Ginobili said everyone who has shared their desire for him to return for his 16th season in a Spurs uniform has prolonged his retirement, because if it was up to him, he would’ve retired three or four years ago.
“Actually, if they did not change my head or my expectations, I would have retired after the finals against Miami in 2013 or 2014,” Ginobili said.
#Spurs Popovich on Manu Ginobili: Started him out of respect, did not want to miss out on opportunity to honor him #ksatsports #KSATnews pic.twitter.com/qNy0rbeAJI
— RJ Marquez (@KSATRJ) May 23, 2017
With new additions and rising stars such as Rudy Gay, Dejounte Murray, Brandon Paul and Joffrey Lauvergne, Ginobili said next season is going to be a special one despite feeling “not as competitive as before.”
Ginobili said one of the main factors to coming back for another season was to follow his dear friend Patty Mills, who recently signed a four-year, $50 million deal to stay in a silver and black uniform.
WATCH: #Spurs Patty Mills says Manu Ginobili brought that "Grandpa Juice" tonight. Team needs him to continue his game #KSATnews #Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/fhXX9OCFRk
— Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) April 26, 2017
“Also for San Antonio and for me it is important to follow Patty, not only for what he is as a player but also for what he is as a person … my connection with him is very important,” Ginobili said. “And it was good for me to go on; I even think he (Mills) gave me a push.”
In his last paragraph, Ginobili said after all the years of playing his style of basketball, all the miles he’s logged playing professionally and all the risks he took while playing at the highest level, he’s surprised to still be playing at age 40.
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“If 10 years ago someone was telling me, ‘You're going to play until 40,’ (I would tell him) that he was crazy. So I am privileged to stay in an elite franchise,” Ginobili said.
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“For now I will continue to enjoy a little more of my vacations, and when I step (in) San Antonio I will put everything.”
Ginobili said, “When the time comes, I’ll get ready to prepare the machine.”
agarcia@ksat.com
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