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Recentlyu, the entire basketball world was rocked when Manu Ginobili, a 16-year veteran, and San Antonio Spurs legend, announced his retirement from the game of basketball.
After being drafted by the Spurs with the 57th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, he joined the team in 2002, where his impact was immediately felt. During his rookie season, he averaged 7.6 points per game to go along with 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals. Despite these seemingly underwhelming statistics, he was a vital component, thanks to his slashing ability and stingy defense.
Since that season, Manu developed into a consistent fixture on San Antonio’s multiple titles runs as the team’s super sixth man. Ginobili embraced his leadership role off the bench and relished punishing other second unit players with his dazzling moves, circus shots, and step-back 3s. His success served as an inspiration for other players to affect the game, regardless of when you enter it.
To say that he had left a lasting impression on every NBA fan is a severely gross understatement. Throughout his illustrious career, Manu showed us how to play this game the right way – with a competitive, white-hot passion and a drive to win at all costs. In spite of his aggressive demeanor on the hardwood, he was a class act of it, choosing to help citizens in Texas, as well as in his home country of Argentina.
Now, as he has chosen to say goodbye, let's send him off on a pleasant farewell by looking back at some of his most memorable career highlights.
2007-2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Manu Ginobili was arguably the poster boy for sixth men in the 2000s. After coming up short the season before, he finally won the award in 2008 when he had career-high season averages of 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, on 46% FG shooting. He also added 1.5 swipes per game for good measure.
He led the team in scoring, three-pointers made, and steals that season and propelled the Spurs all the way to the Western Conference finals. Unfortunately, they lost to the Lakers in five games.
Aside from this, he is also the first sixth man and to be named to an All-NBA (3rd) team in the same season.
Highest Winning Percentage
For his entire career, Ginobili has a record of 762-295 (72.1%), which is the highest among players with at least a thousand games played. With career averages of 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, he has shown that he knows what it takes to win and this unbelievable figure is a testament to that truth. There is little to no doubt that Manu is a true champion.
NBA All-Time Playoff Leader in Several Categories
Aside from his impeccable winning record, Manu is also the leader for numerous postseason statistics as a reserve. Despite only playing 27.4 minutes per game, he has a total of 2014 points, 576 assists, 635 rebounds, 205 steals, 630 field goals made, 226 3-pointers made, and 528 free throws made for his career.
While he was great during the regular season, he simply took his game to another level come playoff time with stats of 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest. These may not seem like a lot, but the hustle, veteran leadership, and craftiness that he brought during those times were truly invaluable.
This is another testimony of how he doesn’t need a ton of minutes or to be in the starting five, to have a solid impact on each game. The top bench player of his time new his role and did his best to fulfill it every single night.
Spurs All-Time Leader in Threes and Steals
San Antonio has had some splendid players over the years, which makes this feat that much more incredible.
In 1057 games played with the silver and black, Manu had amassed totals of 1495 threes made (on 37% shooting) and 1392 steals, which are the most in team history. He always made it a point to punish defenders who would sag off him, in anticipation of his daredevil drives, while tormenting them on the defensive end. Before prototypical 3-and-D players were so in demand, Ginobili had already proved he could do both with great efficiency.
Loyalty and Longevity
In this day and age, loyalty is something you don’t always find in an NBA player. Fans have scoffed at those who jump ship for greener pastures or laid their franchises out to dry when addressing the media.
But gutting it out, through thick and thin, is something we can all appreciate, especially for the older veterans in the league. Manu Ginobili is one of those people, as he is one of only seven individuals who has played at least 16 seasons with the same franchise. He joins the likes of fellow Spur Time Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, John Havlicek, John Stockton, and Reggie Miller.
Additionally, he is also the second ever second-round pick who has appeared in over 1000 games with a single team and one of ten players to play in 200 playoff contests.
In spite of all the injuries he encountered, Ginobili’s professionalism, dedication, and sacrifice, as reflected by these recognitions, still shone through. This has made him one of the most beloved players, not only in San Antonio but all throughout the NBA as well.
As the great Manu Ginobili enters the next chapter of his life, we, as fans, want to thank him for all he’s done for the game of basketball. You may not be the best superstar or have the brightest spotlight on you, but you proved to the World that a skinny kid from Argentina can match up with the best in the world.
You are truly a legend, Manu! The NBA will never be the same again!
