Report: Manu to rejoin Spurs
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili is poised to return for a 16th season with the NBA giants, reports said Tuesday.
The Argentine star, who turns 40 later this month, had hinted he may retire after the Spurs were downed in the Western Conference finals by Golden State last season.
However ESPN reported that Ginobili, a veteran of four NBA championship-winning Spurs teams, was finalising terms on a new deal for at least one more season.
Ginobili has played the entirety of his NBA career with the Spurs, encompassing 922 regular-season games and 212 postseason appearances.
He has averaged 13.6 points per game with 3.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals in regular-season play.
In May, Ginobili was given a rousing ovation on an emotional night in San Antonio as the Spurs' season ended with a 129-115 defeat to the Warriors.
The Argentine star lapped up the adulation but insisted he still felt fit enough to continue playing.
''I do feel like I can still play. But that's not what is going to make me retire or not,'' Ginobili said.
''I have to choose between two truly wonderful options.
''One is to keep playing in this league at this age, enjoying every day, playing the sport I still love.
''The other one is to stay at home, be a dad, travel more, enjoy my whole family. Whatever it is, it's two unbelievable options.''
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Turkish forward Cedi Osman, the team confirmed on Tuesday.
Terms of the deal were not released but local media reports said the 22-year-old shooting guard had inked a three-year contract worth $8.3 million.
The Cavaliers have also agreed to pay $700,000 to Turkish club Anadolu Efes to help meet his $1 million buyout clause.
Osman heads to Cleveland after spending the last five seasons with Anadolu in the Turkish Basketball League first division.
The 6ft 8in forward averaged 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 35 games last season.
Osman represented his country at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, FIBA EuroBasket 2015 and the 2016 Manila FIBA World Olympic qualifying tournament.