Ginobili cleared to return from testicular injury

Manu Ginobili suffered one of the more cringe-worthy injuries of the season last month, when he took a Ryan Anderson knee to the groin and ultimately required testicular surgery.

After a month of rest and recuperation, though, the San Antonio Spurs shooting guard says he's pain-free and has been cleared by team doctors to return to game action, which he anticipates will happen sometime next week.

"It was not much experience on this because it never happened before in the franchise. The doctor never had an athlete (suffer such an injury)," Ginobili said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright. "So we were just figuring it out. But a few days ago, he told me I was clear to do whatever I wanted to do as long as I don't feel pain or discomfort afterward."

Ginobili and the Spurs set a tentative target date of March 10 for his return, and the 38-year-old Argentine has been participating in non-contact shooting drills and team workouts of late.

"I'm progressing great," he said. "I practiced a little bit. I'm feeling good. I've been lifting, conditioning. I'm ready to play."

While captaining the Spurs' indomitable second unit, Ginobili averaged 10 points and 3.3 assists before suffering the injury, shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from 3-point range, with a 19.1 PER and the league's fourth-best individual net rating.

Much as he'd be forgiven for being tentative in his return, Ginobili has no intention of playing things cautious or toning down his aggression.

"I'm not hesitating, I'm not in doubt, I'm not afraid," he said.

He will, however, take some preventative measures. He plans to wear a protective cup for the rest of the season.