In the aftermath of the Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers that eliminated the San Antonio Spurs from the playoffs, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili weren't ready to talk about the possibility of retirement.
Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili say it’s ‘too early’ to talk about retirement
The San Antonio Spurs stars were reluctant to speak about the future after being eliminated from the playoffs.
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“It’s a little too early to think about that,” Duncan told reporters after the game.
Ginobili echoed Duncan’s sentiment. “It’s not a topic to talk about,” Ginobili said. “It’s too soon.”
There's a chance the Spurs lose Gregg Popovich, too, although he was open about being on the sidelines next season. After the game, he told reporters, "We'll probably come back. The paycheck's pretty good."
When asked about his coach’s response, Duncan said, “If that’s what he said, that’s what he said. I’m not making any statement.”
Duncan turned 39 on April 25, but is still playing at a high level. He scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the 111-109 loss in Game 7.
The 37-year-old Ginobili, however, showed his age this year. He averaged just eight points per game in this series.
“It could happen,” Ginobili said. “I still don’t know. I don’t want to make a decision after being a disappointment in a game like this. So I’ll have a lot of time. I will sit with my family and try to evaluate what happened during the season, how I feel and if I am ready to go at it again. I guess the Spurs are going to have to make a decision, too, and see what they want to do also.”
Tony Parker hopes his teammates come back. "I'd tell them to come back," Parker said when asked what he would say if Duncan or Ginobili asked his opinion. "I love playing with Timmy and Manu."
The three have played an NBA record 734 games together. The end of that streak is in sight, if it’s not here already.
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