The San Antonio Spurs are one of the teams who are known to have a number of international players part of their roster each season.
Their lineup last year included Frenchmen Boris Diaw and Tony Parker, Australian Patty Mills, and Argentinian guard Manu Ginobili.
The 2016-2017 will be no different as, despite the trade that sent Diaw to the Utah Jazz, the five-time champion franchise added two rookies from Ginobili's home country. The 39-year-old Bahia Blanca native gave out good words and recommended Patricio Garino and Nicolas Laprovittola to the team's management in hopes of having more Argentinians show their wares in the NBA.
General Manager R.C. Buford certainly showed his trust to their shooting-guard extraordinaire by taking his word and giving the two a chance to compete for a roster spot.
Speaking to Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News, the 55-year-old front office boss discussed how important it was for them to see Ginobili lobbying for his proteges:
“We followed Pato during his time at (George Washington) and Nico during his time playing in Spain,But I think Manu's relationship with them and the belief Manu has in them surely influenced our process.”
Both players also shared how grateful they are to the best basketball player Argentina has produced. They only had high praises for their hero:
Garino: “It's a dream come true for us to be in the NBA, but even more to get to play with Manu, He's our hero, basically our dad, our role model. It's just an unbelievable experience.”
Laprovittola: “For Argentina, Manu is our Michael Jordan. Sharing our first step in the NBA with him is, yes, a dream come true.”
Now approaching the tail-end of his illustrious career, the 14-year NBA veteran serves as a mentor and a big brother to the duo. It helps that he's been in the league for a decade and a half now, and he can share his experiences to his fellow countrymen:
“It’s been a while since I had the chance to welcome an Argentinean to the team, I appreciate both of them. It’s great to show them around and to share the Spurs and NBA experience with them. They are thrilled to be here, for sure.”
“I'm trying to make things easier for them, I really appreciate Nico and Pato, two young, hard-working, talented kids, and I really want to help them.”
Should Ginobili decide to hang his sneakers for good after this coming season, it's safe to say he's paying it forward in molding future NBA players from Argentina. And if one or even both rookies make it to the team's final roster, their two-time all-star teammate will be there to guide them every step of the way.
Follow Us
Subscribe