manu ginobili (Photo : Flickr.com/Keith Allison)
The San Antonio Spurs is on a roll with its latest player acquisition, making it clear that the Texas team wants another go at the championship. However, the biggest question for the Spurs is: will Manu Ginobili retire or will he play for another year?
After making consecutive trips to the NBA Finals in 2013 and 2014, and bagging the NBA Championship in 2014, the Spurs failed to make an impression the past season. The team fell out of contention to in the first round of Playoffs to the LA Clippers.
Since the loss, the team has made important changes to its roster, including trading Tiago Splitter for powerhouse LaMarcus Aldridge. However, San Antonio still hopes to re-sign its prized sixth man, Ginobili. The Argentine has been considering hanging his jersey for good after a heartbreaking playoffs loss to the Clippers, ESPN noted.
Coach Gregg Popovich has made clear his intentions to sign Manu back for his 14th season with the Spurs. According to ESPN, "Ginobili's experience and intangibles make him an important piece as the club tries to make a run at a second championship in three years."
In an interview with La Nacion, as noted by ESPN, Ginobili said that coach Pop's interest in re-signing him made his decision making harder.
"Pop told us he wanted Tim and me back next season. Those words make things very difficult," the shooting guard shared. "At times, I say, 'How am I not going to play a little more?' There are other times I don't even want to see a basketball even close. I'll wait a month and see how I feel."
Sources have confirmed though that the NBA team remains "optimistic" that Manu will be coming back.
Should the three-point master return for another year, the Spurs 2015 roster will feature a strong front and backcourts with Tim Duncan and Aldridge, and Tony Parker and Ginobili.
The 37-year-old Bahia, Blanca-born shooter averaged 10.5 points per game, 4.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds, NBA.com noted.
