Ginobili says he will return next season

San Antonio Spurs veteran and current free agent Manu Ginobili said Sunday in a blog post that he will return for a 15th NBA season.

"The most relevant news is that I've already decided to continue playing in the NBA," Ginobili said in the post, translated by theScore's Carlo Campo. "I didn't have many doubts, but as I do lately, I wanted to let a little bit of time pass and see last season from further away. The reality is that I feel more confident this year and I see things more clearly than last year."

Ginobili will turn 39 on July 28. On his blog, he alluded to a particularly painful testicular injury in February which cost him 12 games.

"I enjoyed the season and, expect for the 'small' incident in February, I was healthy at all times. I definitely want to continue enjoying basketball."

Ginobili declined his player option last month, making him an unrestricted free agent. However, it's still is a virtual certainty he returns to the Spurs, the only NBA franchise he has played for. He averaged 9.6 points and 3.1 assists in 58 games last season. Since becoming the Spurs' regular sixth man in the 2011-12 season, Ginobili has shot 45.3 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from deep.