No big surprise there.

The 37-year-old former Kansas University All-American played for five teams the past five seasons, after negotiating and signing one-year free-agent contracts during that period.

This offseason, however, marks the first time NBA officials have been phoning to gauge Manning’s interest in both playing and coaching.

“A few people have called me and wanted to talk about coaching,” Manning confirmed Monday from his youth basketball camp at Sport2Sport.

Richard Gwin-Journal-World Photo

“Right now, to be honest with you, if I’m going to spend time in the NBA, I’d rather be making player money than coach money. That’s what it boils down to basically.”

Manning — he’s still considering working for new KU coach Bill Self in some capacity during the 2003-04 season — has not yet closed the door on his playing career.

Manning won’t talk specifics, but it’s believed an NBA team or two may be considering bringing him aboard to continue his 15-year-career.

“Playing-wise, it has to be a good situation,” said the 6-foot-10, 235-pounder, who works out daily. “If it’s not, then it’s not anything I’m interested in. It’d have to be a real, real good team to join in like I did last year.

“I do enough to stay ready, and that’s always been my mentality.”

Manning joined the Detroit Pistons at midseason last year. He played in just 13 games, averaging 2.6 points and 1.4 boards off 6.8 minutes per outing.

“I thought Detroit was one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference and it turned out pretty true,” Manning said of the Pistons, who fell to the New Jersey Nets in the conference finals.

“It’s my mentality. If I’m going to be away from my family and not see my kids and be away from my wife, it’s got to be a situation where we have a chance to compete for a championship.”

Players older than Manning — Dennis Rodman has said he wants back in the league at age 42 — still are drawing the NBA veteran minimum paycheck of $1 million a year.

“He can still play, too,” Manning said of Rodman. “For me it’s a matter of finding the right team and the right situation and where you are in life. I’m at the point it’s one or two years at the most, then I’m done just because I’ve got other things on my plate I want to do and other things I want to be part of.”

That could be working at KU as a graduate assistant or part-time aide in the hoops office.

“We’re talking,” Manning said of discussions with Self. “And what we’re talking about is interesting. I still have time to decide. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m in no hurry.”

Self has told the Journal-World he would “love for Danny to be involved” with KU basketball in some capacity.

¢ 6Sports video: Manning’s options are open¢ Danny Manning bio

Manning, who was guest speaker this summer at Self’s camp, was delighted Monday with the turnout for his annual camp. About 300 children are attending the instructional camp, to be held through Thursday.

“Most of the campers are repeat campers,” Manning said. “They bring a friend or two. Most of it is word of mouth. We’re fortunate to have a good staff and it works out well for us. It’s fun. I enjoy it. I look at the staff and it’s guys and girls who were campers here at one time. They come back in the summer and help us. That’s rewarding, too. That’s the fun part. Everybody wants to help the next kid who is coming up.”

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Summer league update: Former KU forward Nick Collison averaged 13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds, while ex-KU guard Kirk Hinrich tallied 8.5 points and 3.6 assists during summer league play for the Seattle SuperSonics and Chicago Bulls respectively.

The 6-10 Collison, who hit 54 percent of his shots, canned 16 of 23 shots in his final two summer games.

The 6-3 Hinrich made 17 of 56 shots overall for 30.4 percent, including eight of 22 threes.

Former KU guard/forward Kenny Gregory hit 15 of 30 shots while averaging 5.5 points a game for the Bulls. He made just one of six three-pointers and two of eight free throws and was not expected to garner an invitation to veterans camp.