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Parker expects Spurs to stay in tact
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The San Antonio Spurs have won five NBA titles since 1999, and point guard Tony Parker expects the core group of the team to return to defend its most recent championship next season.
While Manu Ginobili has said he plans to return, forward Tim Duncan has sidestepped questions about his future – although he has said he will continue to play if he believes he is still an effective player.
“It will come to an end but I don’t think next year,” Parker said, per the San Antonio Express-News. “I think everybody’s gonna come back.”
Duncan is scheduled to earn close to $10.3 million next season while Parker is on the books for $12.5 million, with both entering the final year of their deals along with Ginobili.
“Tim and Manu are going to play until they die, so I think we are in pretty good shape,” Spurs chairman Peter Holt said. “Tim and Manu want to play until they die, somewhat sincerely, actually.”
Duncan, 38, just completed his 17th NBA season and has yet to state his plans for the 2014-15 campaign.
“I’m guessing you’re leading me into a question that I’m not going to answer, so I’ll just go ahead and avoid that one,” Duncan said after the Spurs beat the Miami Heat on Sunday to win their fifth title.
