Longtime Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has announced his retirement from the NBA. The team issued a press release today confirming the news, while Ginobili published his own statement via Twitter.
“Today, with a wide range of feelings, I’m announcing my retirement from basketball,” Ginobili wrote. “IMMENSE GRATITUDE to everyone (family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, fans) involved in my life in the last 23 years. It’s been a fabulous journey. Way beyond my wildest dreams.”
It’s the end of an era in San Antonio, where the Spurs have now seen Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, and Ginobili depart within the last two-plus years.
Ginobili, 41, was the 57th overall pick in the 1999 draft, making him one of the best second-round picks in NBA history. After being drafted, he played overseas for three more seasons, then joined the Spurs in 2002, spending the next 16 years with the franchise.
Over the course of his NBA career, Ginobili appeared in 1,057 regular season contests, averaging 13.3 PPG, 3.8 APG, and 3.5 RPG. He also played in 218 more postseason contests, winning four championships with the Spurs. A two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player, the Argentinian shooting guard was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2008.
Ginobili, who had been the NBA’s second-oldest active player and now becomes one of just seven players to spend his entire career of 16 years or more with a single time, will eventually be a Hall-of-Famer.
The Spurs had Ginobili under contract for one more season and had wanted him back for the 2018/19 campaign, but he’ll call it a career before finishing out that deal. If Duncan’s retirement in 2016 is any indication, San Antonio figure to waive Ginobili at some point and allow him to earn his $2.5MM salary for the coming season.
Ginobili’s departure will open up a spot on the Spurs’ projected regular season roster — with the veteran guard no longer in the mix, the club has just 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts, so there will be at least one spot up for grabs, if not two. It’s not yet clear if San Antonio will make any roster moves to fortify its backcourt in the wake of Ginobili’s retirement.
According to the Spurs, Ginobili will speak to the media about his retirement decision at some point before training camps begin, but it won’t happen this week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
What more can be said about Manu. One time 6th man of the year, 2 time all star, 4 time nba champion, all rookie team, 2 time all nba team. Simply one of the best, and most underrated players, in NBA history. Happy Retirement Manu and Thank You
He also won a gold medal. Against the US. Against multiple hall of famers. One of the most iconic players in the game. Players like James harden model their game after him for a reason. He is not as prolific as Kobe. But he is a definite hall of famer.
Another huge piece of the Spurs dynasty gone, sad to see him go, but it was time.
Thanks Manu.
Reminds me of Jorge posada with the Yankees. Never the best player on the team, but was a huge part of a great dynasty for many years. Great career
Damn don’t insult Manu
He didn’t
That’s actually a pretty good comparison.
Sad day when another great leaves our game. Hopefully will see him soon back in the league in any capacity, he has got so much to teach young pups about.
We always talk about the Lebron Super teams but couldn’t you argue Manu, Parker and Duncan were the original? I’m sure others could make the claim but modern day I’d say spurs
They were never a super team. Manu and Parker were both late picks in the draft and grew playing alongside Duncan, they did what every organization should strive to do which is build from within like Golden State did with Curry,Klay, and Green.
So you are telling me that you don’t consider the Warriors a superteam Dionis?
Parker and Manu are borderline all stars at best. Duncan is the only superstar. Bosh is a borderline all star at least while Wade and James are both superstars. Lebron’s Heat team was a lot more top heavy to me.
Great now we can see Lonnie Walker IV.
Who cares about Lonnie Walker IV? He will never fill the boots of Manu.
Maybe not but a new era is upon us.
I remember manu being a freaking pest when the 04 pistons won it all. Great player, enjoyed watching him play.
Manu stayed consistently great throughout his entire career including last year where was arguably the spurs 3rd best player behind LMA and Murray.
I think he joins his brother and coaches young Argentinians back home. I will pray he works with Juan Pablo Vaulet who could start the next wave of Argentines in the NBA.
1st ballot Hall of Famer. Massively underrated, and so unique. Manu Ginobili is a true champion. He sacrificed a lot to play the roles that he did, and he is a 4 time NBA champion for that. I will always remember him essentially single handedly winning Argentina an Olympic Gold Medal by defeating team USA multiple times. If you dont understand how good Manu has always been, look up highlights. He was so skilled. He could have easily been a much bigger scorer had he played elsewhere or were a little more selfish. He was also always trusted to make big plays down the stretch of games, and was the guy they always called on in clutch situations. I was hoping he would play 1 more year. It’s going to be weird seeing that team without Duncan, Manu, and Tony Parker, but they do have some good young guards that will get that playing time