Mano Ginobili has been one of the most recognizable faces of the San Antonio Spurs for the past 11 years. The guard has built up an impressive resume over the length of his career . But as Ginobili continues to get older, the amount of time he has left in the league becomes more uncertain every year. Ginobili is now saying he is no guarantee to return, saying that with his age, he is officially year to year.
Ginobili is currently in the final year of his contract and the highest paid player on the Spurs. With Tony Parker and Tim Duncan signed through the 2015 season, fans would love to see Ginobili at least play until then, but the 35-year old says he is starting to feel his age.
"But ask me right now and I'd like to play two more years for sure," Ginobili said.
Ginobili recognized that physically, he is not as healthy as he used to be, noting the "little things" physically are now bothering him more and more. He has tried to maintain a healthy diet to remain as active as possible.
Ginobili is currently averaging the fewest minutes per game (23) than he has in his entire career and his role has been reduced to being the first man off the bench. Injuries have been a big issue for the Spurs, forcing the team to heavily monitor the minutes and play of its aging lineup.
Despite the occurring ailments, Ginobili is still having a great season. He is shooting 44 percent from the floor and 36 percent from behind the arc. He leads the Spurs with a defensive-efficiency rating of 95.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. His 26.6 assist ration is just below team leader Parker's 27.4. When he is on the court and healthy, he still remains a difference maker. But how long can he keep it up?
While Ginobili says he wants to play two more years, he could easily opt out once his contract is up at the end of the season. Ginobili has played his entire career with San Antonio, so it is likely that the team could renegotiate a two year contract extension.
The Spurs currently boast the league's best record and a strong three-game lead of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Much of their success can be credited to the resurgence of Duncan. With Parker now out for the next four weeks, the team will rely heavily on Ginobili to carry the team through the end of the regular season. There is no doubt that Ginobili will be in the Hall of Fame upon retirement and the Spurs must prepare themselves for that coming sooner rather than later.