Manu David Ginobili, born on July 28, 1977, is a former professional basketball player from Argentina. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) professional league and represented the San Antonio Spurs for the entirety of his career. Manu is one of the two, the other being Bill Bradley, to have won an NBA title, an Olympic Medal, and a EuroLeague title.
In the NBA, specifically in the San Antonio Spurs, he was one of the big three in the team, along with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. He started his NBA career back in 2002 and has won four NBA championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.
Early Life
Emanuel David Ginobili was born in Bahia, Blanca, on July 28, 1977. His mother’s name is Raquel, and his father's is Jorge. Manu belongs to a family of basketball players, with him learning the sport at a young age.
Ginobili’s older brother had played for seven years in the Argentine Basketball League. On the other hand, his brother, Sebastian, played basketball in the Spanish 2nd-tier Liga Española de Baloncesto and the Argentine Local League.
Manu was fascinated by the sport at a young age and started to play basketball with his two brothers and father. Then he started watching the NBA and became a fan of Michael Jordan. During his childhood, he often played basketball with his childhood friend, Pepe Sanchez.
Pepe went on to play in Argentina’s Junior National Team. Manu debuted professionally when representing Andino Sports Club in the Argentina basketball league. He was 18 years old during his debut.
NBA Journey
Sports Team History
He helped his side pass the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals and then the New Jersey Nets in the NBA finals 2003. Ginobili improved his performance in the 2003-2004 season and participated in 77 games. His game average was 4.5 rebounds, 12.8 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals. During the following season, although he had some issues with the Spurs, he still signed with them.
Little did he know it would be one of the most successful seasons in his NBA career. He was even selected as a Western Conference All-Star team for that year. Manu then went ahead and helped his team win another NBA championship. In the 2006-2007 season, he helped his team defeat the Denver Nuggets and, later on, the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz. Later, they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for another NBA title.
In 2010, Manu Ginobili agreed with the Spurs to another contract worth $39 million for three years. He was regarded as the key player for his team in the 2010-2011 season, and he finished 8th place in the NBA MVP ballot for that season. In the 2013-2014 season, the San Antonio Spurs entered another NBA finals by facing the Miami Heat for the second consecutive season. This time, the Spurs curbed the other team and won its 5th NBA title, the fourth for Manu Ginobili.
Manu then proceeded to re-sign with the team on July 20, 2015 and had 900 games as a Spur when he played against the Cavaliers on January 14, 2016. On the same day, he renewed his contract with the Spurs.
In January 2018, Manu became the only player to collect multiple 20-point games off the bench at age 40. Not only that, but he also became the first player in his 40s to have 15+ points in consecutive games. And then, in a game against the Sacramento Kings, Vince Carter and Manu Ginobili earned 21 and 15 points, respectively, making it the first time that two 40+ years old players scored over 15 points.
He announced his retirement from professional basketball on August 27, 2018. With this, Manu Ginobili became the second player after Nick Collison in NBA history to finish their career with only 1 NBA franchise under their belts.
Manu Ginobili is a fan-favorite in the San Antonio Spurs, especially among bettors. Whenever the Spurs went on to play against big teams like the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics odds usually dipped in favor of the Spurs, mainly when they played at home. With these achievements, Manu Ginobili deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which happened in September 2022.
Final Word
Manu Ginobili has undoubtedly left his mark in the NBA, especially in the San Antonio Spurs. We all miss his magic in the court, but all legends eventually end. But without a doubt, his skills and plays will never be forgotten in NBA history.
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