In his 16th season in the league, Manu Ginobili has been one of the most significant veteran presences in the locker room for the San Antonio Spurs that head coach Gregg Popovich has leaned on over the years.

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It is something that Popovich recently acknowledged as he pointed to Ginobili still being one of the primary players that have laid the foundation that has been established in San Antonio over nearly the last two decades, according to Paul Flannery of SB Nation.

“For us he’s like the fiber and the background and the spirit of the team along with Patty Mills and Tony and Timmy,” Pop said. “Now it’s shifting to LaMarcus (Aldridge) and Kawhi (Leonard), that kind of thing. In the meantime he’s like a pacifier. You know how your kid looks for a pacifier? I look for Manu. When I see him in the gym I feel better.”

Despite not being the same player he once was, the 40-year-old still clearly holds much importance for the Spurs. It may have been one of the huge reasons why Popovich was so keen on convincing him to return this past offseason that led to the eventual signing of a team-friendly two-year, $5 million deal.

Ginobili has remained one of the core pieces that has helped the Spurs maintain continued success on the court over the years. His presence alone has allowed for him to be an extension of what Popovich has instilled in the franchise throughout his head coaching career in San Antonio.

With Ginobili around for at least the next two seasons, it will mean much more of the same stability over that span and speak even greater to his significance to the organization.