Spurs Still Waiting for Duncan and Ginobili to Decide
The San Antonio Spurs immediate future hangs in the balance as both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili have yet to announce whether they will return for another NBA season or hang up their sneakers now and retire.
However, on Thursday a revelation about the NBA future of Duncan might have been made when lawyers that are representing him in a lawsuit versus a former financial advisor requested the trial date be during the summer so the power forward of the Spurs would not miss any playing time, said a source from a local newspaper in San Antonio.
Duncan is 39 and a free agent. He was expected to use most of the summer to decide his future. If he returns, it would be his 19th season in the NBA, with all 19 at San Antonio.
Duncan has 1,572 NBA games to his credit during the regular season and 241 in the postseason. His decision to return could have an effect on the future of Ginobili, who said Duncan’s move could impact his own.
Duncan was given recognition for a fine season by being named to the All-NBA third team, which marked the 15th time in 18 seasons he made one of the three teams, which tied him for a record in the league with Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Duncan has been the NBA MVP twice and was the oldest All-NBA squad member since Abdul-Jabbar in 1986.
Immediately following San Antonio’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, coach Gregg Popovich indicated that he, Ginobili and Duncan would likely be back for another NBA season.
Popovich has said he would walk away when Duncan retires as the duo along with Ginobili has won five championships in the NBA. Popovich added that he is continually amazed by Duncan. He said he was the most consistent player at 39 during the playoffs, but needed a bit more help from his teammates.
Ginobili the Spurs talented swingman is also a free agent. He has played 13 seasons with the Spurs in the NBA and said he would announce in a few weeks what his decision will be.
While is looks more and more like Duncan will return, no one knows what Ginobili is thinking. He has returned to his home in Argentina where he will enjoy his 38th birthday at the end of July.
Even though the Spurs have been out of basketball for about a month, there is still no word on the future of two of their best players. Let’s hope they opt to play one more year.
