Tim Duncan’s legendary career is over, but Manu Ginobili’s will go on for at least one more year potentially. The 38-year-old Argentinian is nearing a deal to stay with the San Antonio Spurs.
Nobody was ready for Tim Duncan’s 19-year NBA career to end earlier this week.
Thankfully, the Duncan era in San Antonio with the Spurs isn’t technically over. Some of the cornerstones during Duncan’s days are still around to keep one of sports’ best franchises afloat in title contention.
One of those cornerstones: Manu Ginobili.
Last week, Ginobili took to his personal blog and his Twitter account to announce that he would return for at least one more season. The 38-year-old (like Duncan) had consider hanging up the jersey and calling it a career, but he made it clear that he’s got one more year in him.
Like Stein mentioned, the Spurs must use all of their available salary cap space to re-sign Ginobili to a new contract, but they own his full Bird Rights and have no issue giving him one more NBA season in his soon-to-be Hall of Fame career.
Despite Duncan’s departure from the game of basketball, Ginobili and point guard Tony Parker still remain from four of the previous five Spurs title teams. Throw in LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol and Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs will likely find a way to be among the Western Conference’s elite teams again next season.
Outside of the Golden State Warriors’ “Death Star Lineup” formation with Kevin Durant now in the fold, the Spurs are still likely one of the few teams that could escape the Western Conference portion of the postseason.
It’s unlikely anyone other than the Warriors comes out of the West this season, but after all these years, one must know to never count out Ginobili and the Spurs.
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