At the 1999 NBA draft, Manu Ginobili was sound asleep as his name was announced with the second-to-last selection. While competing in Brazil with the Argentine national team, he had no idea the draft was happening.
He found out the news when his coach woke him up. Have you double-checked everything?” He then said, “. He played shooting guard for Reggio Calabria, an Italian second division team, at the tender age of 21. He was in disbelief.
The Beginning of Ginobili’s Professional Career
Ginobili’s professional career started. Rod Thorn didn’t know how to pronounce his name while announcing his pick. The Spurs sought overseas talents to “draft and stash” after winning their first NBA championship.
San Antonio selected a basketball-obsessed lefty from Baha Blanca, Argentina, with the 57th overall. ESPN gave them a D for their draft, which netted a Croatian guard named Gordan Giricek. He was stating, “We’ll confess we don’t know much about these men since the boss won’t pay for scouting visits to Europe.”
Gregg Popovich has suggested Tim Duncan’s 1997 pick was important to his success. This is correct, but it understates the Spurs’ two-year-later choice.
This decision, probably the best ever, became the heart and soul of the century’s most successful pro basketball team. Manu won four NBA titles and an Olympic gold medal and left an unforgettable impression on the NBA.
He pioneered the Euro-step and altered the Spurs and NBA with his unique approach. Argentines, San Antonians, and others adore him. He’ll be inducted Saturday.
Spurs President and CEO R.C. Buford Said After Seeing Manu Play for the First Time
Spurs CEO R.C. Buford claimed Manu was a “wild colt” the first time he saw him play. Others of it made sense, some didn’t. That didn’t alter when he lost his mane. He made more sense as you observed him. He appeared out of beat and careening until you understood he had his own.
After three seasons in Europe, Manu joined Spurs in 2002. “Wild colt” joined an orderly team. Its guiding philosophy is “pound the rock.”
It was borrowed from a 19th-century Dutch American social reformer’s statement and emphasized procedure and stability. Pop, a retired Air Force major, handled offense and preached defense. Their finest player, “The Big Fundamental,” had a 12-foot bank shot.
Manu nutmegged idiots. Smooth yet fragmented, he was hard to defend. Raja Bell stated he was the toughest player to defend. Bell, a Ringer podcaster, formerly studied offensive players.
Manu was un-figure-out-able; he appeared to relate to space and time differently than others on the court. Basketball has a pace and rhythm that isn’t always predictable. Great players influence the flow, not just follow it. Manu has a way of undermining it without breaking the flow.
Clips of His Best Plays Don’t Tell the Whole Story
His finest plays are only excerpts. A YouTube supercut can portray some of Ginobili’s ingenuity, but it won’t illustrate how he jolted the game or how he turned a routine cut into a bucket or a simple interception into a one-man fast break.
My favorite Manu play comes from a regular-season game, perfect for a guy who combined casual excellence with recklessness.
Tiago Splitter will pass to him after he misses a 3-pointer. Manu starts his throwing motion before he gets the pass and sends a rocket through a jungle of arms for a wide-open layup.
Manu’s slam over Chris Bosh in the 2014 Finals is his signature play. Manu’s excellence came from nothing. The north-south assault, the gather, the lengthy strides as he reached the basket, and the courageous finish were classic Ginobili.
Manu’s Way Became Integral to the Spurs’ Way
The Spurs adopted Manu’s style. His competitiveness and leadership drew them together on the court.
When Manu decided to come off the bench, he established the Spurs’ team-first ideals. Pop let Manu operate outside the Spurs’ plan when his freelancing went astray.
Manu’s early Spurs angst became the dynasty’s secret sauce. Manu’s improvisational skills shone in the Spurs’ system.
The Spurs discovered energy and surprise in Manu. Another clip shows this relationship. It’s a pass within the offense’s flow, but only Manu would deem Patty Mills open.
Manu moves forward to meet the first ball, creating up space along the baseline, then goes behind his back since Mills’ man and the help defender are on the baseline side. Mills’ delivery is so good that he appears to catch the ball on its way to the basket.
Manu’s daring moves and outrageous passes didn’t always succeed, but they never stopped. He’s an alternative to the standard sports tale of a bad-boy-turned-hero.
Manu never let you forget your faults, and if you did, he reminded you, but his determination and ingenuity helped you overcome them.
