Spurs reach multi-year deal with Ginobili

The San Antonio Spurs signed guard Manu Ginobili to a multi-year contract extension, keeping the Argentine player from testing the free agent market at the end of the season.

Ginobili, who has spent his eight-year career with San Antonio and won three NBA championships, had a mediocre start this term and could have become an unrestricted free agent when the campaign finishes.

But the Spurs said the 32-year-old Ginobili, who won the NBA's sixth man of the year award in 2008 as the most valuable player coming off the bench as a substitute, is an important part of their programme and wanted to keep him.

"It is a great feeling to know that one of the best players in the world will continue to be a Spur," San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Spurs did not disclose terms of the deal for Ginobili but several media reports said it was a three-year contract worth $39 million.