OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 24: Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors after the Warriors beat the Spurs in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on April 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Steve Kerr Urges Manu Ginobili to Continue NBA Career After Spurs-Warriors

Alec NathanApr 24, 2018

Steve Kerr had some words of encouragement for Manu Ginobili after his Golden State Warriors defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 99-91, in Game 5 on Tuesday night at Oracle Arena to advance to the second round of the 2018 playoffs.

Speaking to his former Spurs teammate, Kerr told Ginobili he would like to see him stave off retirement once again this summer.

"I hope you keep playing. I really do," Kerr said. "Keep going, OK? You know what, we met Roger Federer this year in China. I said, 'Why do you keep playing?' He said, 'I love it.' If you love it, keep going. What the hell? You remind me of him, by the way."

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Ginobili, 40, hasn't made his plans for next season clear. However, he did leave the door open for a return when he addressed the topic earlier this month.

"I don't think about it," he said, according to the San Antonio Express-News' Jeff McDonald. "It's something I'll think about in the summer. I just think about today."

In five games against the Spurs, Ginobili averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three.

The highlight of that run came in a 103-90 Game 4 win, when he dropped 16 points (5-of-10 shooting) and five dimes in 25 minutes off the bench.