Manu Ginobili‘s game-saving block on James Harden during Tuesday's Game 5 against the Houston Rockets might have come across as right-place-at-the-right-time type of play, but in reality, it's what the Argentinian international has done throughout his entire NBA career.
Despite boasting a humble 0.3 blocks per game average throughout his 15-year career in the league, Ginobili has made a habit of blocking some of the deadliest shooters when it comes to crunch time.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the 39-year-old has blocked the likes of Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Kevin Love, and now Harden down in a game-tying or go-ahead shot in the final minute of play.
Manu Ginobili: 4 career blocks of a game-tying/go-ahead shot in the final minute.
The players? Harden, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant & Kevin Love pic.twitter.com/muwPwnYorJ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 10, 2017
While the name Kevin Love might not sound like it fits in the company of other volume shooters with the game on the line, let's all remember that Love was the go-to everything for a desperate Minnesota Timberwolves team during his six years with the franchise.
Ginobili had his highest minute output of this postseason on Tuesday, logging 32 minutes in the overtime thriller and bouncing back from the four goose eggs he laid to start the series against the Memphis Grizzlies to begin the postseason.
The 6-foot-6 hybrid guard tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a block that will surely be remembered if the San Antonio Spurs are able to close out this series.
Ginobili might have gotten up there in age, but his fearlessness and willingness to make the play that needs to be made at the time is still one of Gregg Popovich‘s best kept secrets.
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