INQUIRER Sports

SAN ANTONIO - Michael Finley will return next season for the San Antonio Spurs, his fifth with the Western Conference team and his 15th season in the NBA.

Finley, among the active leaders in several NBA statistical categories, had the option on whether or not to return to the Spurs for the 2009-2010 season.

Finley has a career average of 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game, producing 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds a game last season for the Spurs while shooting a career-high 41 percent from 3-point range over 81 games.

After starting his career in Phoenix, Finley played nine seasons for the Dallas Mavericks before joining the Spurs.

Overall, Finley ranks fourth among active NBA players with 1,057 games played and fifth in 3-point baskets with 1,422.