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Gregg Popovich wanted Manu Ginobili back in San Antonio

Manu Ginobili passed on a possible return to the San Antonio Spurs

Earlier this week, San Antonio Spurs fans were excited by the news that Tim Duncan was returning to the franchise as an assistant coach to Gregg Popovich. However, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times, Popovich first approached another legend in Manu Ginobili:

The assistant coaching concept, I’m told, was also broached with Ginobili, who has only been retired for one season and was apparently not quite ready to dive back in. But then Duncan volunteered, and happily took second billing to Will Hardy.

Ginobili spent his entire NBA career with the Spurs, winning four titles. However, the Argentine wanted to spend more time away from basketball following his retirement just 12 months earlier.

Due to this, Duncan was approached to take on the assistant role, and some analysts have suggested that the former star has the potential to become a future head coach.