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Ginobili commits to Argentina for 2016 Olympics

Thomas B. Shea / USA TODAY Sports

Manu Ginobili has informed his coach on Argentina's national team that he intends to play for his country at this summer's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

"To say that Manu's availability makes me happy personally is to put it mildly," coach Sergio Hernandez said, according to ESPN's Michael Wallace. "He will be able to end his career with the national team at an Olympic Games."

Whether Rodriguez is referring to Ginobili's entire playing career or just his tenure with the national program remains to be seen, but the fact is the San Antonio Spurs veteran will turn 39 one week before the Olympic Games begin.

The two-time NBA All-Star didn't commit to returning to the Spurs for the 2015-16 campaign until last July, almost two months after the team had been eliminated from the playoffs. It led many to believe this will be Ginobili's swan song, and playing for his country this summer could punctuate it. Two years ago, however, he said he was "certain, 98 percent" he would never play for Argentina again.

Ginobili has played for the national team since he was 21, helping lead Argentina to a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. He has a heavily discounted player option for $2.9 million with the Spurs next season.

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