HIS 16TH SEASON
Another year on Spurs for Manu Ginobili
— He spent last week on the Spanish island of Ibiza, soaking in sun and some well-deserved family time.
At some point during his beach vacation, the thought might have entered Manu Ginobili’s mind: He could get used to this.
He is on the cusp of turning 40, a Hall of Fame-worthy basketball career already in the rearview and, should he so desire, many more days at the beach ahead.
It turns out retirement can wait for the latest Spurs legend to contemplate it.
Ginobili is nearing an agreement to return to the Spurs for a 16th season, league sources said Tuesday.
Neither the Spurs nor Ginobili are expected to comment until the deal is finalized.
However, Ginobili tweeted early Tuesday morning, “Back with the @Spurs for another season #thrilled #youngat40.”
Be sure the reaction will be jubilant — both in the Spurs’ locker room and San Antonio at large — for the return of an Argentine guard whose crowd-pleasing name has become synonymous with the franchise.
“I don’t want him to ever retire,” coach Gregg Popovich said last spring, when asked to consider life without Ginobili, who turns 40 on July 28. “I want to squeeze every last ounce of juice I can.
“I’m going to use him up like a bar of soap until there’s nothing left for his family or anybody else in the world.” Apparently, there is still a sliver
left in that soap dish. A four-time NBA champion and the fifth-leading scorer in Spurs history, Ginobili averaged 7.5 points and shot 39 percent last season, career lows. He also approached career lows in many
other statistical categories. Still, Ginobili remains vital to the Spurs as a floor general and locker-room leader, especially with point guard Tony Parker — the team’s longest-tenured player