NBA Rumors: Manu Ginobili returning for 16th season
NBA Rumors: It appears that Manu Ginobili, instead of retiring, will return for his 16th NBA season with the San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are working to finalize an agreement which would bring Manu Ginobili back to the team for a 16th, and potentially final NBA season, in 2017-18. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the two sides are close to an agreement first.
Manu will turn 40 years old before the season begins.
"[via ESPN]Four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili is finalizing a return for his 16th season with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources told ESPN."
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"Ginobili has been learning toward a return next season, and plans to push back retirement for at least one more season, league sources said."
Manu, who played a key part of the team’s postseason success, primarily during the team’s series against the Houston Rockets, was a piece that the team almost needed back. After losing Jonathan Simmons in free agency, the team’s bench lost a big part of its heart.
Even though Manu is not the player he once was, his simple presence should bring some level of comfort for Gregg Popovich as a bench option.
His presence in the locker room should also be a welcome sight.
In nearly 20 minutes per game last season, Manu Ginobili averaged a little over seven points per game on 39 percent shooting from three-point range.
The Spurs, after knocking off the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets in the first two rounds of the playoffs, were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals last season.
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Though, Kawhi Leonard missed the last three games of that series with a bad ankle. With limited working room, the Spurs didn’t add much this summer. After attempting to move LaMarcus Aldridge at the NBA Draft, San Antonio pretty much decided to stand pat in free agency. They did sign Rudy Gay and Euroleague guard Brandon Paul, however.
Question is, was that enough?