Manu Ginobili will need more time to decide on whether to hang up his sneakers for good or return to the San Antonio Spurs for a 16th NBA season. San Antonio Express News reported that Manu’s brother, Sepo, said that the veteran will decide on his next move in the coming months. Sepo said his brother will return to the Spurs “if he can help and be useful to the team.”

After the Spurs were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals last May 22, Ginoboli hen said he will need “"three weeks, four weeks, whatever" to “let it sink in”.

Then, he will sit down with his wife to discuss his immediate future. In Game 4, Ginobili scored 15 points, issued seven assists and had three steals in 32 minutes.

The Warriors also heaped praises on Ginobili, with point guard Steph Curry saying that he’s a No. 1 fan of the Argentinian player. Shaun Livingston described Ginobili as “the ultimate warrior" while Warriors acting head coach Mike Brown said Ginobili is “one of the all-time greatest I’ve come across.”

Ginobili happy with his decision, either way

Ginobili added that he will have no problem deciding either way. Ginobili said if he keeps playing, he will enjoy and play the report that “I still love”. If he decides to retire, he will have more time to be a father and enjoy his whole family.

“I have a wonderful family and spend time with them,” he said.

Last season, the 39-year-old Ginobili averaged just 7.5 points and 2.3 assists last season but his leadership and mentoring ability to young players were immeasurable contributions to the team. Spurs backup guard Patty Mills said his relationship with Manu is like grandfather and grandchild and it will “go on for years beyond basketball." With the Spurs, Ginobili won four NBA titles and made it to the All-Star and All-NBA Third Team twice in his career.

Ginobili’s heir apparent to join Spurs next season

Adam Hanga, a guard/forward of Spanish team Baskonia in the EuroLeague, will join the Spurs next season as a possible replacement for Ginobili. Hanga was the Spurs’ second round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. A versatile player like Ginobili, Hanga submitted 10.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season with Baskonia.

Hanga was later named as Euroleague's Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 1.3 steals per game last season. Despite his 6-foot-7 ceiling, Hanga had 22 blocks in his career. Hanga also possesses Ginobili’s outside shooting, making 38 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc, aside from the ability to finish strong to the hoop during fastbreaks.
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