For the second season in a row, a Spurs icon on the clock

The last time Spurs fans saw Manu Ginobili, he was blowing them kisses.

That was the night of May 22, after the Spurs fell to Golden State in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals and Ginobili left the AT&T Center for perhaps the final time as a player.

A sold-out crowd chanted his name, and Ginobili gave the love right back. It seemed like the thing to do at the time.

“It felt like they wanted me to retire,” he said.

Decision day has not yet arrived for Ginobili, the soon-to-be 40-year-old guard from Argentina and one of South Texas’ favorite adopted sons.

But it is getting closer with each tick-tock of the clock.

At 11:01 p.m. Friday, Ginobili will officially become a free agent again.

He will soon be forced to decide whether to return for a 16th NBA season or Eurostep off the stage for good.

“Whatever his decision is, I will respect it,” teammate Danny Green said. “But it would be nice to play with him for another year.”

By design, Ginobili hasn’t said much about his impending decision since the night of the Spurs’ ouster.

A few days afterward, he penned a column for La Nacion, a nationwide newspaper in Argentina, hitting on many of the same points he made from the interview podium after Game 4.

He would take a few weeks to weigh the pros and cons of another season with his family. His mind was not yet made up.

“If I had already made up my mind,” he wrote, “I would have burst into tears right there.”

San Antonio has done this dance before. For the second summer in a row, the Spurs are in danger of losing a Hall of Famer.

At this time last year, it was franchise icon Tim Duncan wrestling with the future.

It ultimately took Duncan until July 11 to formally announce his retirement.

There is no deadline for Ginobili to announce a decision. His deliberation should not affect whatever other paths the Spurs explore during free agency.

Ginobili signed a one-year, $14 million last summer. If he does decide to return, he might have to accept a smaller paycheck.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Ginobili should take all the time he needs.

“Just like Timmy,” Popovich said. “Timmy didn’t decide right away. It’s usually best to take a little bit of a respite from basketball and crowds and all of that, and think about what you want to do.”

If Ginobili does opt for retirement, it will present another summertime gut punch for Spurs fans.

More Information Spurs free agents Here is a list of players who will become free agents as of 11:01 p.m. Friday: Manu Ginobili: Faces another summertime decision about whether to return for another season or retire. Would likely have to sign for less than the $14 million earned last season. Patty Mills: Spurs would like him back, especially in light of Tony Parker’s injury. Will be hard to retain if Spurs also plan to chase significant outside free agents. Jonathon Simmons: A restricted free agent due a pay raise after a breakout postseason. Could become this year’s version of Boban Marjanovic and sign an offer sheet the Spurs decline to match. Pau Gasol: His stunning decision to opt out of $16.2 million gives the Spurs more options for filling out the roster. Expected back at a lower annual salary. David Lee: Opted out of $2.3 million to become a free agent. Should find more lucrative offers elsewhere after a bounce-back season with Spurs. Dewayne Dedmon: Another player seeking greener pastures after opting out of $3.03 million. Not expected to return to Spurs. Jeff McDonald

Read More

Duncan walked away last July as inarguably the top player in club history, the cornerstone of five NBA championships and the owner of most every Spurs record that matters.

Ginobili, meanwhile, is arguably the most beloved player in Spurs history. His passion for the game, combined with his Hispanic heritage, has made him an Argentine Beatle in South Texas.

Pau Gasol played only one season with Ginobili. Yet he realizes what the Spurs would lose if Ginobili opts to hang up his sneakers.

“He’s kind of the heart of the team, bringing the competitive edge, giving everything he’s got,” Gasol said during the playoffs. “I’ve always respected Manu so much through all our battles. It’s really been a privilege to play with him.”

Ginobili averaged a career-low 7.5 points last season and shot a career-low 39 percent. His 18.7 minutes per game were also the fewest of his career.

He was the second-oldest player in the NBA behind Memphis’ Vince Carter, another 40-year-old wing who hits the free agent market Friday night.

Yet Ginobili was healthy enough to appear in 69 games, his second-most since 2010-11.

That is no small factor when it comes to the prospect of signing up for another 82-game grind.

Unlike Duncan, who was down to zero good knees by the end, Ginobili’s body is still relatively intact.

“It’s huge,” Ginobili said late last season. “The times in which I had to be rehabbing the whole time and having multiple issues are the moments where I thought maybe it was better just to stay home. But the past three seasons have been great, except for minor incidents. I’ve been enjoying the ride.”

In the end, maybe that isn’t enough to entice Ginobili back for another go.

He and his wife, Many, have three sons, twin 7-year-olds and a 3-year-old. Maybe Ginobili decides it is time for him to be a full-time father.

Maybe the ride is over. Maybe that night at the AT&T Center in May really was goodbye.

Only Ginobili knows for sure, and even he might not know yet.

Whatever he decides — stay or go — don’t cry for him, Argentina. Or San Antonio for that matter.

“I have to choose between two wonderful options,” Ginobili said in May. “So there is no way I can be sad. Whatever I decide, it’s going to be great.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN