Manu Ginobili announced today via his Twitter that at the age of 41 he is ending his career in the National Basketball Association. As you would expect, he did so in a humble and simple way:

“Today, with a wide range of feelings, I’m announcing my retirement from basketball. It’s been a fabulous journey. Way beyond my wildest dreams”

From Argentina, Ginobili began his career playing in the Argentinian League and at age 20 would move to Europe to play for Viola Reggio Calabria in the Italian 2nd Division, where his efforts were good enough to get the team promoted to the 1st Division. He caught the attention of NBA Scouts and he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs and he would be drafted in the 2nd Round, 57th Overall in 1999. The Argentine would not sign with the Spurs but would continue to play in Italy where he signed with Virtus Bologna where he played for two seasons. Ginobili would help Bologna win the EuroLeague in 2001 and was named the Finals MVP. He truly had his coming out party in 2002, where in Indianapolis he helped Argentina win the Silver Medal in 2002 and he was named to the All-Tournament Team. He was then ready for the NBA.

It took awhile for Ginobili to really find his groove in the Association but once he did he proved how much of a steal he was in the draft. Ginobili’s rookie season in the regular season was not headturning but his playoffs were as his minutes increased and he helped San Antonio win the Championship. His play gradually improved and in the 2004-05 season he was named a reserve in the All Star Game and now as a bona fide starter he had a much larger role in helping San Antonio win another title. This would cap a spectacular twelve month period as Ginobili led Argentina to a surprise win at the 2004 Olympics.

Ginobili would become part of San Antonio’s “Big Three” along with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan and while injuries began to pile up, Ginobili was still very effective posting good traditional numbers and even better advanced metrics. From the 2004-05 Season to the 2011-12 Season, the Shooting Guard never had a PER under 20 and had a 16.5 PPG. He would go to his second All Star Game in 2011, while also winning another NBA Title (2007) and a Bronze Medal in the 2008 Olympic Games. He was also named an NBA Third Team NBA All Star twice (2008 & 2011)

Following this stretch, Ginobili, who previously was used both as a starter and reserve, was relegated to a bench role permanently, but his selfless attitude and still effective shot still made him valuable to the Spurs, which was shown as he helped them win the championship again in 2014.

Ginobili leaves behind a legacy as a clutch performer, an incredible teammate and consummate winner. He is one of only two players to with the EuroLeague, the Olympics and an NBA Championship, and his overall body of work should be enough to land him into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to thank Manu Ginobili for the great memories on the court and we wish him the best in his post-playing career.

Another day in the NFL preseason and we have another NFL retirement to discuss as Wide Receiver Eric Decker has announced that he is done playing professional career

A 2010 third round pick from the University of Minnesota, Decker became a starter in 2011 and would record his first of two straight solid seasons for Denver after. He would net 85 and 87 receptions in 2012 and 2013 respectively with 1,000 Yards in both seasons. He would help the Broncos reach Super Bowl XLVII (albeit in a losing effort).

Decker would sign with the New York Jets where he played three seasons and had another 1,000 Yard Season (2015). He finished his career in 2017 with the Tennessee Titans and he signed with the New England Patriots in this off season. He did play in this pre-season and prior to his retirement it was uncertain whether he would make the roster.

While Eric Decker was never a Pro Bowler he retires with a pretty good career of 439 Receptions, 5,816 Receiving Yards and 53 Touchdown Receptions. This may not be a Hall of Fame career (he is however eligible in 2023) but a damned good one.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Eric Decker the best in his post-playing career.

We have another retirement in the National Football League to mention as Tight End Julius Thomas has announced that he will be retiring from the National Football League to pursue a doctorate in psychology.

Thomas played collegiately at Portland State where he was drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in 2011. He would see little action in his first two seasons but would have a breakout 2013 season where we was named to the Pro Bowl with 65 Reception/788 Yard season where he also had a dozen Touchdowns. That year, the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl, although the Seattle Seahawks handily defeated them. He would have another Pro Bowl season in 2014 where he tied his mark for 12 Touchdowns.

He would sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars for 2015 where he would play two more seasons and he would finish off his career with Miami last year.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Julius Thomas the best in his post-playing career.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame has released their ballot for the Class of 2019 and let’s get right to the eight nominees:

Jonas Bjorkman: Bjorkman would win 6 Singles titles and had a career high rank of #4 but he was a specialist in Doubles where he was a nine time Grand Slam Champion (Australian Open 1998, 1999 & 2001, French Open (2005 & 2006), Wimbledon (2002, 2003 & 2004) and the U.S. Open 2003). The native of Sweden would also assist his country win three David Cups.

Sergi Bruguera: From Spain, Sergi Bruguera won the French Open in both 1993 and 1994 and won 14 singles titles and in 1994 he was ranked as high as #3. He also won the Olympic Silver Medal in 1996. Notably he is the only player who has a wining record over both Roger Federer and Pete Sampras.

Goran Ivanisevic: In 2001, Goran Ivanisevic would a surprise winner of the 2001 Wimbledon Title. The Croatian star never did win another Grand Slam, although he did win 22 career titles and was ranked as high as #2. He would also help Croatia win the Davis Cup in 2005.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov: Kafelnikov is the last man to win a Grand Slam Singles and Doubles in the same year when he did so at the French Open in 1996. The Russian also won the Australian Open (1999) and the Olympics in Sydney (2002). He is a former #1 player and also won three more Grand Slam Doubles (French Open 1997 & 2002 & U.S. Open 1997).

Conchita Martinez: Martinez won the Wimbledon in 1994, which made her the first Spaniard to win a Grand Slam. She would win 33 Singles titles and three Olympic Medals (Silver 1992 & 2004 & Bronze 1996).

Thomas Muster: From Austria, Thomas Muster was once ranked # (1996) and he would win the French Open in 1996.He would win 44 Singles Titles over his career.

Li Na: Na won the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014, which made her the first (and to date) the only Asian to win a Grand Slam. She won 9 titles in the WTA and was once ranked #2 on the world and should she be chosen for the Hall, Na would become the first player from Asia to be selected.

Mary Pierce: Pierce won the Australian Open in 1995 and the French Open in 2000 and had 18 career singles titles overall.   The Frenchwoman was ranked as high as #3.

As mentioned earlier in the week, the International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced a fan vote that will play into the voting as the leading vote getter will receive a three percent vote increase, the runner-up will receive a two percent increase and the third place finisher will be bumped up one percent.

To enter the Hall, a nominee must receive 75% of the vote.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the nominees.