I felt comfortable all season and I'm healthy: Why not keep going?
By Manu Ginobili
Truth be told, my decision to continue playing in the NBA it's because I felt great throughout last season. It was much easier to make that decision in no small part because of that. I had a good time, I enjoyed my minutes on the court. Even though the end wasn't the one we expected with the Spurs, that can't just erase everything that happened earlier. At a different time of my career, not winning the championship or losing a bit earlier than expected would have put the whole season in the disappointment column. Nowadays I experience these things in a different light. We played great for a long stretch of the season, I felt comfortable all season and I'm healthy, I can't think why I shouldn't keep on going. Well, that's what I value the most at this time. I value it above all.
I felt that I was useful to the team. That's why it didn't take long to thing about continuing. Now it's time to wait and see how things develop. I understand it's a delicate moment, because free agency just started and, as it normally happens, you have to wait until the "big fish" sign first. I'm aware my team is seeking Kevin Durant's services. So the way this works is those kind of players are signed up first, and then there's a cascade effect, where the rest of the deals are signed. It's a completely understandable situation. It's logical that the first order is to cover fundamental roles. It's not the time for news for me. I did talk to Pop: he told me he wanted me back, that he'd like if I could keep going, and there's no doubt San Antonio has priority for me. I'd love to get back home because that's what the Spurs have always been to me. But well, we have to wait and see how everything works out. Because besides Durant, they're looking for a Center. I have to be patient. I'm counting that they want me back, but we have to see how the cards are played.
There's no doubt that the rumors about the free agents the Spurs are after makes me even more enthusiastic, but all that is also multiplied because I've been living there for 14 years. I feel at home, I know the system, I identify it as mine, everybody knows how I feel about Pop. It's my priority and I would prefer not to play somewhere else, but I can't disregard the fact that they might have different options on the table too.
I'm enjoying this so much that I don't even think if this is going to be my last season or not. If I feel better this season than the previous one, why stop playing? I've been taking every season like the last one for a while now. When July 2017 comes around again, I'll sit down and think about it again.
... (the rest of the article is about the Argentina NT)
Original in Spanish:
http://canchallena.lanacion.com.ar/1...eguir-adelante
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