There’s a good chance this is Manu Ginobili’s final season in the NBA. Following some drama in the offseason when the 76ers made “an extremely high offer” to acquire him, he signed a one-year extension with the Spurs worth $14 million. He is still having an impact on the Spurs this season — they are a better team when he’s on the court even though he’s close to averaging a career-low with 7.7 points per game — but he’ll turn 40-years-old on July 28.
The number of players who have played an NBA game past their 40th birthday is slim. Nat Hickey is the oldest at 45-years-old, but only eight other players have done so since 1948. Plus, in addition to many thinking last season would be Ginobili’s last, he has been dropping hints throughout this season that he’ll be joining Tim Duncan in retirement soon with quotes like this:
Told Manu Ginobili this is his last game at The Palace, which is due to be torn down. Manu laughed: "It probably was going to be anyway."
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) February 10, 2017
Until that day comes, however, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich plans to use Ginobili as much as possible. Prior to their loss against the Warriors on Wednesday, Popovich told media he hopes Ginobili never retires. He also said he’s going to use Ginobili “like a bar of soap until there’s nothing left.” Sportswriter Jack McCallum probably put it best with his response on Twitter: “Love the compliment; lukewarm on the image.”
Pop says he hopes Manu Ginobili never retires. "I'm going to use him like a bar of soap until there's nothing left."
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) March 29, 2017
As sad as it is that we have a maximum of 36 games remaining in Ginobili’s career — eight regular season games and 28 playoff games — the good news is he won’t be a stranger for long. He’s going to be in the Hall of Fame one day and the Spurs will almost certainly retire his jersey. That means another unforgettable ceremony with the likes of Tony Parker, Duncan and Popovich reminiscing about old times.
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We can only hope for a statue outside of the AT&T Center to compliment the one he already has in Buenos Aires, too.