NBA Rumors: San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili elects to retire after 16 seasons in which he won four NBA championships
It’s officially the end of an era for the San Antonio Spurs.
Just a couple years after Tim Duncan called it a career, the Spurs elected to not re-sign Tony Parker, trade Kawhi Leonard and now Manu Ginobili has decided to retire from the NBA after 16 seasons in San Antonio.
Ginobili announced his desire to return from the Association via Twitter Monday afternoon
Today, with a wide range of feelings, I'm announcing my retirement from basketball. IMMENSE GRATITUDE to everyone (family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, fans) involved in my life in the last 23 years. It's been a fabulous journey. Way beyond my wildest dreams. pic.twitter.com/3MLCUtmd6K
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) August 27, 2018
Ginobili began his illustrious career in 2002-03 where he averaged eight points in nearly 20 minutes per game. He enjoyed the best season of his career during the 2007-08 season in which he posted career highs in points (19.5), rebounds (4.5) and minutes (31.0).
Over the course of his career with the Spurs, Manu four NBA championships, was named to the NBA all-star team twice and was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2008.
He will definitely be elected into the pro basketball hall of fame in short order and will forever live in the hearts of Spurs fans. From his long flowing hair, to his dagger step-back jumper, Manu was a huge part of what the Spurs accomplished over the last decade and a half.
San Antonio likely doesn’t win four NBA championships without Manu, and perhaps Ginobili doesn’t become the hall of famer without San Antonio. This was a match made in NBA heaven.
But the retirement of Ginobili marks the end of an era for the Spurs. The team looks nothing like it did during the golden age, with the exception of Gregg Popovich who is rumored to be in the latter portions of his NBA coaching career too.
Don’t get it twisted, though. What the Spurs accomplished from 2000-2018 will forever be remembered. And we might never see anything like it again.