Report: Prior to hiring Duncan, Spurs approached Ginobili for coaching role

The San Antonio Spurs made waves when they announced that Tim Duncan would be joining Gregg Popovich's staff as an assistant coach this upcoming season. However, the 15-time All-Star apparently wasn't the first franchise icon to be approached about a gig on the bench.

Prior to Duncan coming back into the fold in an official capacity, the team approached his longtime running mate, Manu Ginobili, about the possibility of becoming an assistant coach, according to The New York Times' Marc Stein.

Like Duncan, the Argentine spent his entire NBA career in San Antonio under Popovich's tutelage. However, the Spurs' former longtime sixth man was reportedly reluctant to come back to the NBA on a full-time basis after retiring as a player only last summer, according to Stein.

Ginobili, who turns 42 on July 28, averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game in 1,057 regular-season appearances. Beyond his individual success, the flashy two-guard also helped lift the Spurs to championship titles in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.