Last season, Ginobili did not exceed 20 minutes per game-the first time it has happened over his 14-year career.
His average of 19.6 minutes ranked him seventh on the team and second among Spurs reserves behind spark plug Patty Mills (20.5).
It was the second consecutive season someone other than Ginobili led the team in minutes off the bench.
An annual reduction in playing time for a guard approaching 40 is expected; Ginobili has dropped from 30.3 minutes in 2010-11 to 22.8 in 2013-14 to last year’s low.
As long as he believes he deserves them, Ginobili, isn’t ready to relinquish any of his minutes.