Sep 30, 2008 - 7:33 PM
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Citing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Express-News reported that Ginobili has been ruled out for November and could sit out even longer than that.
"Manu will be out 20 to 25 games - until mid-December at the latest," Popovich told the newspaper.
The 31-year-old Ginobili has been cleared for swimming and weightlifting to stay in shape but will not participate in training camp activities this week, the report said.
The star guard originally was supposed to be out eight to 12 weeks after having ankle surgery on September 3. But it seems as though the Spurs have decided to be cautious with one of their best players.
Ginobili suffered the injury against the Phoenix Suns in first round of the Western Conference playoffs last season. For the remainder of the postseason, he was hampered but was cleared to play for Argentina in the 2008 Olympics, where he aggravated the injury against the United States in the semifinals on August 22.
"Had he not hurt it in the Olympics, he probably would have done it 15, 25, 35 games into the season," Popovich told the newspaper. "It could be a blessing that he's gotten operated on. They've gone in there and cleaned things out. His ankle will be in better shape than it's been in years, I would imagine."
The 6-6 Ginobili, who watched from the sideline as Argentina won a bronze medal in Beijing, had an MRI prior to the surgery, which confirmed that there was no additional damage to the ankle or the ligament.
But after collapsing to the floor in Beijing, he knew that it would take him some time to get back to normal.
"When I felt what I felt, I knew surgery was coming," he said in the report.
Ginobili's long-term absence certainly would hurt the Spurs, who went 56-26 in the regular season but looked old and slow against the Lakers in the conference finals.
The reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Ginobili averaged career highs of 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season.
But after playing brilliantly in leading San Antonio past upstart New Orleans in the conference semifinals, Ginobili clearly was affected by the ankle injury in the Western finals, as he averaged just 12.6 points while shooting 36 percent from the floor during the series.
Ginobili recovered to lead the Olympic tournament in scoring until tweaking his bothersome ankle.
