Manu Ginobili, who’s now 40-years-old, is still playing a significant amount of minutes for the San Antonio Spurs at 40-years-old. Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors and Manu’s former teammate with the Spurs, recently shared his thoughts on Manu, particularly his health in relation to his playing career.
As reported by Tom Osborne of the San Antonio Express-News, Kerr said in jest:
“Yes. I could see Manu playing when he is like 58. Honestly. He loves the game. He keeps himself in such great shape.”
Asked if he could see Manu coming back for another season, Steve Kerr said, "Yes. I could see Manu playing when he is like 58. Honestly. He loves the game. He keeps himself in such great shape." #Spurs
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 20, 2018
Steve Kerr might be exaggerating but in full honesty, Manu could still use a few more years of significant game time before finally hanging his jersey. For the season, the four-time NBA champion is averaging 8.9 points per game, 2.5 assists, and 2.1 rebounds in 20.1 minutes of action every night.
He’s been a major pillar for the Spurs ever since being selected 57th overall in 2003. Since then, he has helped the franchise snag several championships and consecutive playoff appearances.
This season, however, the Spurs are on the brink of not making it to the playoffs. In a tight and competitive Western Conference, they are currently sitting on a 40-30 record for seventh place.
Yet despite their struggles, Manu Ginobili has continued to inspire his teammates. At 40-years-old he still acts as if he’s a rookie who’s full of zest and energy. As reported by Osborn, his teammate Danny Green had nothing but admiration for Manu:
“He inspires everybody,” Green said of Ginobili. “When a 40 year old can go out there and take charges (against Davis) and throws his body out there and lays his life on the line for this team, it inspires the young guys to want to do the same thing, to do it the way he does. Nobody competes like Manu.”
