San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich recently answered a few questions with regards to Manu Ginobili playing in the twilight of his career. It's a known fact that coach Pop doesn't like answering a lot of questions, but he seemed happy to open up on this occasion.
Without a doubt, Ginobili will be remembered as one of the greatest players to have donned a Spurs uniform. He's come a long way since joining the team in 2002. However, in his first few seasons with the Spurs, Ginobili and Popovich struggled to build a relationship. Now, after 15 years and four championships together, their bond is rock solid.
“It sounds kind of weird,” says Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, describing what it’s like to coach Ginobili in his twilight, “but it’s sort of a melancholy joy, and thinking that maybe every arena he steps into may be the last time I’ll see him in that arena.”
Ginobili has been a key factor in San Antonio's recent success — a fact that coach Popovich was quick to point out.
“I always make sure I touch him before every game,” says Popovich, “and remember what he’s meant to us over the years and how significant a factor he’s been in our success. I think I’m probably enjoying it more than ever, because I feel I’m about to lose him.”
Ginobili has been an ever-present threat for the Spurs. The Argentinian forward has played in 1,029 games over the course of his career, averaging 13.4 points on 44.7 percent shooting from the field (36.9 percent from beyond the arc), 2.4 assists, and 2.2 rebounds.
“He taught me to be a little more patient,” coach Popovich once said of Ginobili.
Ginobili has been the heartbeat of the Spurs. He's a man who is well-respected, and his legacy will be remembered forever. Furthermore, Manu has been a beacon of inspiration for international players, proving that they too can make it to the NBA level.
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