Manu Ginobili played his last season in a San Antonio Spurs uniform knowing it would be his last. The Argentinian said goodbye to the NBA after 16 seasons, capping a 23-year professional career by penning this column in Spanish for his country's publication La Nación.

Via Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News:

“I never externalized it because there was no sense limiting my options,” wrote Manu Ginobili. “I wanted to leave the door open for doubts that changed my mind or that I still felt the physical and mental strength needed to face (another) season.”

Ginobili had gone in a vacation trip to Canada with his family and resumed workouts upon his return, hoping the desire to keep playing would re-ignite by being next to the rest of his teammates.

The lefty noticed that “the opposite happened” and how “little by little I was convinced of the decision to retire.”

Ginobili, while still battling the same internal battle before every professional decides to call it a career, admits he's at peace with his decision, knowing it's the right one to take.

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“You cannot imagine the tension I had in front of the computer before pressing ‘Enter,'” wrote Ginobili. “I'm not sure why, since I was convinced of what I had to do and that it was the right decision, but it was very crazy. I am convinced and happy with the step I took. It's hard to explain everything I felt. Immediately afterwards I experienced a great relief.”

“What I made clear to Pop is that it's not ‘Ciao, I'm leaving,'” he added. “My children have already started classes and while I'm in town I'll be close to the team and the franchise. Maybe I cannot help (anymore) by taking a (charge) or (with a steal) or something, but I'll try to add in what I can. I have a great appreciation for my teammates, for the staff and all the people on the team and I want it to go as well as possible. If I can help from the outside, I will do it with pleasure.”

The Spurs plan to place Ginobili on waivers while giving him the full $2.5 million that would be owed to him had he played the 2018-19 season — the ultimate display of pure class from an organization known to honor every one of their contracts.