He may already be 39-years-old and nearing the twilight of his career, but San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili still decided to come back this year and play one more season.
It is easy to assume that his main motivation for playing his 15th NBA campaign is to mainly win a championship and go out on top, but he recently revealed that it's more than that:
“I decided the last few years not to let a win or a loss affect my everyday life, my family’s life, and all that. So I’m way more relaxed. I decided to come back because I feel I still enjoy it. I can still help the team. That’s it.”
This year, the coaching staff is putting a 20-minute cap on his playing time during the regular season as they are looking to preserve his health and get him ready for another playoff push. His 19.2 minutes per game is a career-low but he certainly brings more to the table than just seeing action on the court.
His claim to still be enjoying the game even at an advanced age is certainly good news to the San Antonio faithful as it goes to show how high his competitive spirit still is. Without Tim Duncan in their fold now, Ginobili will be looked upon by his teammates as their veteran leader and the locker room presence a contending team needs. If he'll be able to remain healthy, it won't be surprising if Ginobili sees more time on the floor starting in mid-April.
Follow Us
Subscribe