The Spurs greatest superstar Tim Duncan slipped away quietly after the 2016 season. No Kobe Bryant-style farewell tour for Duncan, just a playoff run and then an announcement to say au revoir,
it’s been a great career. Part of what made Duncan’s career so great was the play of his longtime teammate Manu Ginobili, who Coach Gregg Popovich once described as the “most aggressive” player he’s ever seen. Ginobili will soon say goodbye to the Spurs also, as Father Time knows. But for now, having taken over the “oldest Spur” title from Duncan, Ginobili has signed on to give Spurs fans another year to appreciate his extraordinary grit, style and skill in a Spurs uniform. He may also slip away quietly when it’s over, but he won’t be quiet on the floor. It’s just not the fiery Argentinian’s style.
Ginobili likes to talk to his fans on social media. He recently confessed that he was perplexed by Kawhi Leonard smiling in China — “what’s going on?” he asked, having seen more smiles this summer from Leonard than in the previous six years. Maybe Leonard is smiling because he gets to play at least one more year with Manu. Ginobili also told fans recently that he’s getting ready for the season. That it’s time to go to work. Spurs GM RC Buford said earlier this summer that they were hoping to re-sign Ginobili (they did) as soon as he “gets off the beach.” A recent Ginobili tweet indicates that he is shaking the sand from between his toes now and getting ready. He says he needs to get “this quadragenarian body in shape for the 17/18 season!” The over-40 set in the NBA is pretty small. If they gave out an MVP by age, Ginobili would be in a heated battle with Vince Carter, also still a factor at age 40.
Now it’s time to start working hard to get this quadragenarian body in shape for the 17/18 season! ???#gospursgo!
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) August 16, 2017
