Manu Ginobili today reflected on his 16 years with the San Antonio Spurs, in his first public comments since announcing his retirement, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"Even tough I am very sure about the decision, it is still awkward," he said of his retirement. "But my fingers shook a lot before hitting that 'enter,' I am telling you. It wasn't an easy decision. After 23 years doing this, it was hard to put the last nail on that coffin."
Ginobili says he knew during last season that it would be his last, but he didn't announce it until this summer.
"I couldn't see my body going through that grind again," he said. "I felt I left everything I had in the last season, physically and mentally, and when I came back I saw some of the guys working out, and I was so far from that, and that's when I said to myself 'this is it'. I couldn't see me getting ready for another 82 games."