Spurs Ginobili retires after 16 years in NBA

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San Antonio Spurs basketball star Manu Ginobili announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association after 16 years in the league. "Today, with a wide range of feelings, I'm announcing my retirement from basketball," the Argentine star said in a Twitter post on Monday.

Manu Ginobili (#20) of the San Antonio Spurs announces his retirement from the NBA via Twitter on August 27, 2018. /Screenshot from Twitter

One of the game's most decorated international players, Ginobili, 41, was a four-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist for Argentina.

A second round draft pick of the Spurs in 1999, he played in 1,057 games, averaging 13.3 points and 3.8 assists.

Manu Ginobili (#20) of the San Antonio Spurs talks to head coach Gregg Popovich during Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Denver Nuggets, during the 2005 NBA Playoffs, May 2, 2005, Denver Colorado. /VCG Photo

Ginobili helped the Spurs win NBA titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.

He also was a gold medalist with Argentina in 2004 and won the EuroLeague Finals most valuable player honors in 2001.

The swingman, a fan favorite in San Antonio, was under contract for 2018-19, but he said in April that he was weighing what's next in his career.

Manu Ginobili (#20) of the San Antonio Spurs goes for a layup in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors during the 2017 NBA Playoffs, May 20, 2017, San Antonio, Texas. /VCG Photo

"As I've done it the last two or three seasons, I'll sit back, relax and, after two or three months, see if I feel retired or not," Ginobili said. "I like to let it season a little bit, to see how I feel.

"I'm not the type of guy who makes decisions on the fly, and when you are upset, hurt or whatever."

Ginobili averaged 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 20 minutes per game last season for the Spurs, who were eliminated in the playoffs by the champion Golden State Warriors.

(Top image: Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs waves to the fans after playing against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 17, 2018, in Brooklyn, New York. /VCG Photo )

Source(s): Reuters