Spurs' Manu Ginobili announces retirement after 16 seasons

[sandensea]

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, 41, announced Monday that he is retiring.

"Today, with a wide range of feelings, I'm announcing my retirement from basketball," he said in a tweet. "It's been a fabulous journey. Way beyond my wildest dreams."

The Argentine-born Ginobili, a future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, had been working out regularly at the Spurs' practice facility as he considered his decision to retire.

The Spurs had been hopeful that Ginobili would want to return for a 17th season and allowed him to take all the time he needed to decide, league sources had told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The team thanked Ginobili in a tweet and video Monday.

His decision brings a historic 16-season run with the Spurs to an end. He is one of the most decorated international players in basketball history, a four-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA All-Star, an Olympic gold medalist for Argentina and a Euroleague MVP.

Ginobili played 1,057 regular-season and 218 playoff games with the Spurs, ranking in the franchise's top five all time in games, points (14,043), assists (4,001) and steals (1,392). He averaged 8.9 points and 20 minutes a game for the Spurs last season.

At: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/24493528/manu-ginobili-san-antonio-spurs-retiring

[JDC]

1. Flop King, but great player

[sandensea]

3. Met him once on the San Antonio riverwalk.

He was taking a stroll with his wife, and despite being in 'disguise' (big Boston cap, pea coat, sunglasses), was instantly recognizable.

He was shy, partly on account of his heavy accent - but very gracious, jovial, and thoroughly unassuming. That was about 14 years ago.

All the Best to him.

[Mosby]

2. He's had a great career with the spurs

His head games with refs only make him greater.