Manu Ginobili, perhaps the best player on the San Antonio Spurs today, has announced his current plans on when he will retire.
"The truth is that I have set the date of my retirement, but I have two years left on this contract in San Antonio, and I will reach age 36. I think it may be an appropriate age to stop playing," Ginobili told an Argentinian Web site. "I never had the desire to play in the country and retire at home. I always thought about retiring at the highest level."
Though Ginobili may certainly change his mind within the next two years, it sounds as if he has thought this decision through. I personally would be surprised if he were to change his mind.
If Ginobili does retire, he will leave as a three-time NBA champion (unless the Spurs win another championship). When he retires, it will signify the end of perhaps one of the most dominant trio of players of all-time: the Big Three formed by Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
An unorthodox player, Ginobili has been nothing short of a fan favorite throughout his career. Fans will love him for his hustle, his aggressiveness when attacking the rim and his flat-out ability to play basketball. I'm sure that we will all miss the famous Charles Barkley "Ginobili!" cry as well.
Ginobili will also likely find himself in the Hall of Fame. He has enjoyed a great NBA career, winning three NBA championships as I mentioned earlier. He is also a two-time All-Star and a former NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
Ginobili has also earned multiple accolades during his brief overseas playing career. He is a two-time former Lega A MVP, a two-time former Italian Cup MVP, a former Euroleague Final Four MVP and a former FIBA Americas Championship MVP. Ginobili was named one of the 35 greatest Euroleague players of all-time in 2008.
Though Ginobili is likely to be named a Hall of Famer in the future, there are still two years before his contract runs up. Ginobili is dedicated to playing out the remainder of that contract, and while that may not necessarily mean two full seasons because of the lockout, he will be in the league until at least the end of the 2012-13 season.
Spurs fans can only hope that Ginobili can help their team win at least one more championship before he hangs it up for good.
Kevin Yeung is a contributor for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @kevinyeung_.
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