Manu Ginobili Comments on Decision to Return to Spurs in Free Agency, Tim Duncan

The San Antonio Spurs lost longtime franchise cornerstone Tim Duncan to retirement in the offseason, but Manu Ginobili decided to return to the team for his 15th season.

Ginobili spoke Thursday about how he wanted to explore the potential of playing elsewhere before ultimately concluding he would stay in San Antonio, per The Vertical’s Michael Lee:

I never wanted to leave San Antonio. But I had to listen to all the options that are there.

The fact that Philadelphia had a great coach and a person I appreciate so much as Brett Brown, made it more appealing in the case the Spurs didn’t happen. But the Spurs happened and they always had the priority. … I still enjoy the game. Last year, I had a blast. We had a great team. I did well. I was healthy, except that incident in February [when Ginobili was forced to miss 11 games after a knee to the groin required testicle surgery]. Once I felt that I enjoy the game still and I can still do it, it wasn’t a hard decision.

Considering how long he’s been with the Spurs and the fact that he played a role on four championship-winning squads, it would’ve been bizarre to see Ginobili wearing a different jersey in 2016-17.

Duncan walked away from the game earlier in July after 19 seasons in San Antonio. Ginobili also took some time to speak about The Big Fundamental on Thursday, per …

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