Argentinian basketballer Ginobili focuses on Olympics

Argentinian basketballer Emanuel Ginobili, four-time champion of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States with San Antonio Spurs, has confirmed his main goal is the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

After being knocked out in the semi-finals of the NBA's Western Conference, the shooting guard from the Texan team told local daily La Nacion on Wednesday that his future in the sport is unknown, taking into account that Ginobili will turn 39 on July 28, reports Xinhua.

"Now what is occupying my mind is to relieve everything. I need to free my mind, digest and then after a few weeks I will set myself new objectives. However, now, my main goal is the Olympic Games. It is time for me to relax," said Ginobili.

The player announced that "over the next few weeks" he will reflect on his future even though it may be a bit premature.

Ginobili will talk with San Antonio Spurs' trainer, Gregg Popovich, and with his team-mate Tim Duncan.

"I don't know what I will do but I want people to know that if I do decide to retire, it will not be due to lack of work but because I believe it to be the right time. I am lucky -- because not everyone is able to decide when to do things - I have the option to choose," said the Argentinian.

Ginobili added that there is a possibility that he could continue with the Texan team for one year but he insisted that he will take the necessary time before deciding.

"In this period I will think about what happened this year. For the majority of the time it was a spectacular season but we had a bad game against Oklahoma City and we were eliminated," said the player.

Ginobili admitted that he needed "to rest his head a little," even though thinking about the Olympics is inevitable.

Ginobili won the gold medal in Athens 2004 and the bronze in Beijing 2008 while in London 2012 Argentina finished in the fourth place.

--IANS

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