Manu Ginobili has no plans of retirement

Manu Ginobili

Buenos Aires, Dec 31 (IANS)

Star Argentinian basketball player Emanuel Ginobili Wednesday said he'll make no decision about retiring from the National Basketball Association (NBA) until the end of the playing season.

"I'm not going to make any decisions until July and that's still pretty far away," the 37-year-old was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

"The season isn't even midway finished, but when it does end, I will see whether I'm ready to retire or to continue playing."

Ginobili, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs and is considered one of the top international players in the NBA, was asked whether he would consider donning his national team jersey one more time, should the country compete in a tournament.

"If I were in shape, if I were healthy, yes, of course I'd like that. But just for one game, just to wear the jersey," said Ginobili, who had to skip the 2014 FIBA World Cup in September due to a stress fracture detected in early June.

Better known as "Manu," the four-time NBA champion (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014) has also helped his national team win the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. In 2012, at the London Olympics, Argentina finished fourth.