There was a time early in Manu Ginobili's career when the future Hall of Famer's penchant for daring got on Gregg Popovich's nerve, to the point the San Antonio Spurs coach tried to rein him in. It was only once Popovich learned to live with Ginobili's inevitable mistakes that the genius playmaker began living up his potential, quickly proving an indispensable piece to a group that would go on to win four championships during his time wearing silver and black.
At Ginobili's jersey retirement ceremony after San Antonio's 116-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Popovich explained just how valuable the Argentinean icon was to Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and the dynasty Spurs.
“The way the team was set up, we all needed each other. And without Manu, there were no championships,” Popovich told an adoring AT&T Center crowd from halfcourt. “It was not gonna happen without Manu. As Tony [Parker] said, his ferocity, his drive, his unbelievable will to win, his competitiveness were off the charts.”
Ginobili won four rings over his 16-season tenure in San Antonio, and would have had a fifth if he didn't play some of the worst basketball of his career at the worst possible time. He had eight turnovers in the Spurs' defining Game 6 loss to the Miami Heat in the 2013 Finals, and had his pass stolen by LeBron James in the waning moments of Game 7 when San Antonio was still within striking distance. Ginobili played so poorly throughout the 2013 playoffs, many, including some within the organization, wondered if he would retire.
Instead, he went on to play five more seasons, avenging his 2013 gaffe by averaging 14.4 points and 4.4 assists per game on 50 percent shooting and 41.8 percent from three in the Spurs' championship win over Miami one year later. Ginobili retired last season at age 40.
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