Manu Ginóbili facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Manu Ginóbili

Ginóbili with the San Antonio Spurs in 2010
[[San Antonio Spurs|San Antonio Spurs]]
Special advisor
Personal information
Born	(1977-07-28) 28 July 1977 (age 48) Bahía Blanca, Argentina
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	1999 / Round: 2 / Pick: 57th overall
Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
Pro career	1995–2018
League	NBA
Career history
1995–1996	Andino
1996–1998	Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca
1998–2000	Viola Reggio Calabria
2000–2002	Virtus Bologna
2002–2018	San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
4× NBA champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) 2× NBA All-Star (2005, 2011) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2008, 2011) NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2008) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2003) No. 20 retired by San Antonio Spurs Argentina's No. 5 retired by the CABB EuroLeague champion (2001) EuroLeague Finals MVP (2001) All-EuroLeague First Team (2002) EuroLeague steals leader (2002) Italian League champion (2001) 2× Italian Cup winner (2001, 2002) 2× Italian League MVP (2001, 2002) Italian Cup MVP (2002) Italian League steals leader (2002) 3× Italian League All-Star (1999, 2000, 2001) Italian League All-Star Game Dunk Contest Champion (2001) FIBA AmeriCup MVP (2001) Olympics MVP (2004) 2× Olimpia de Oro (2003, 2004) Diamond Konex Award (2010) 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors (2008)
Career NBA statistics
Points	14,043 (13.3 ppg)
Rebounds	3,697 (3.5 rpg)
Assists	4,001 (3.8 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Argentina Summer Olympics Gold 2004 Athens Bronze 2008 Beijing FIBA World Cup Silver 2002 Indianapolis FIBA Diamond Ball Bronze 2004 Belgrade Gold 2008 Nanjing FIBA AmeriCup Bronze 1999 San Juan Gold 2001 Neuquén Silver 2003 San Juan Gold 2011 Mar del Plata FIBA South American Championship Silver 1999 Bahía Blanca

Emanuel David "Manu" Ginóbili (born 28 July 1977) is a famous Argentine former professional basketball player. He is known for making the "Euro step" move popular in the NBA. Many people think he is one of the best "sixth men" in the league's history. He is also considered one of the greatest Latin American players ever.

Ginóbili led the Argentine national team to a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. His team was the only one to beat a US NBA team in the history of this competition. Over his 23-year career, Ginóbili became one of only two players to win a EuroLeague title, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal.

He won four NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs, where he played his entire 16-year NBA career. With teammates Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, Ginóbili was part of the "Big Three" that made the Spurs a very successful team. Since September 2021, Ginóbili has been a special advisor for the Spurs' basketball operations.

Ginóbili comes from a family of basketball players. He played in Argentina and Italy before joining the NBA. In Italy, he won many awards, including two Italian League MVP awards and the 2001 EuroLeague championship.

The San Antonio Spurs picked Ginóbili as the 57th player in the 1999 NBA draft. He joined the Spurs in 2002 and quickly became a key player. Besides his four NBA championships, he was chosen as an All-Star in 2005 and 2011. In 2007–08, he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. Ginóbili retired from the NBA in August 2018. In April 2022, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Family and Early Life

Manu Ginóbili grew up in a family that loved basketball. His older brother, Leandro, played in Argentina's basketball league. His other brother, Sebastián, played in both Argentina and Spain. Their father, Jorge, was a basketball coach in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, where Manu first learned to play. Manu loved basketball from a young age, especially because he looked up to Michael Jordan.

Ginóbili has dual citizenship, meaning he is a citizen of both Argentina and Italy. He speaks Italian and English very well, along with his native Spanish. In his free time, he enjoys listening to Latin music, watching movies, and traveling. In 2004, he married Marianela Oroño. They have three sons: twin boys Dante and Nicola (born in 2010), and Luca (born in 2014).

Ginóbili has always supported fairness for everyone. A documentary about his life was made by Rodolfo Lamboglia.

Professional Basketball Journey

Starting in Argentina and Italy (1995–2002)

Ginóbili began his professional career in Argentina in the 1995–96 season with Andino Sport Club. He then played for his hometown team, Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca, until 1998.

After playing in Argentina, Ginóbili moved to Europe. He spent two seasons (1998–2000) with the Italian team Basket Viola Reggio Calabria. He helped them move up from the Italian 2nd Division to the 1st Division.

Even though the San Antonio Spurs picked him in the 1999 NBA draft, Ginóbili decided to stay in Italy for a bit longer. He joined Kinder Bologna and had a very successful time there. He helped them win the Italian League Championship in 2001 and the Italian Cups in 2001 and 2002. He also led them to win the 2001 EuroLeague championship. For his amazing play, he was named the EuroLeague Finals MVP in 2001. He was also named the Italian League MVP in 2000–01 and 2001–02.

While playing for the Argentine national team at the 2002 FIBA World Championship, Ginóbili was named to the All-Tournament Team. He helped Argentina win a silver medal, finishing second in the world.

Joining the San Antonio Spurs (2002–2018)

First NBA Championship (2002–2004)

Ginóbili was drafted by the Spurs as the 57th pick (second to last) in the 1999 NBA draft.

Ginóbili joined the Spurs for the 2002–03 NBA season. He started as a backup player and had some injuries early on, which made it hard to get used to the NBA game. But as he got healthier, he played better. He was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month in March and made the All-Rookie Second Team. The Spurs had a great regular season, winning 60 games.

In the playoffs, Ginóbili became a very important player for Coach Gregg Popovich. He played in every game and surprised opponents with his scoring. The Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers. Then, they defeated the Dallas Mavericks and the New Jersey Nets in the Finals, winning San Antonio's second championship! After this big win, Ginóbili received his first Olimpia de Oro (Golden Olympia) as Argentina's best sportsperson. A gym in his hometown was even named after him.

In the 2003–04 NBA season, Ginóbili played a bigger role, starting in half of his games. His stats improved, showing he was becoming a star. In the 2004 playoffs, the Spurs lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Even though he didn't start any playoff games that year, his performance was still very strong.

Winning More Championships (2004–2011)

Ginóbili met then-President of Argentina Néstor Kirchner after the 2005 NBA Finals.

Ginóbili signed a new contract with the Spurs and started every game in the 2004–05 NBA season. This was his best season yet! He was chosen by NBA coaches to be an All-Star for the first time. In the playoffs, Ginóbili was key to the Spurs winning their third championship. They beat the Phoenix Suns and then won a tough seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons. Ginóbili had his best playoff scoring numbers, and he was second only to Tim Duncan for the NBA Finals MVP award. He also won his second Olimpia de Oro award.

The 2005–06 NBA season was tough for Ginóbili because of foot and ankle injuries. He played in fewer games and his stats dipped. In the playoffs, he played well, but the Spurs lost to the Dallas Mavericks.

In the 2006–07 NBA season, Ginóbili often came off the bench as a "sixth man." This helped the Spurs play better and get the best record in the league during the second half of the season. He played almost as well as he did in his great 2004–05 season, even though he started fewer games. In the 2007 playoffs, he helped the Spurs beat the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz. Then, they swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to win Ginóbili's third and San Antonio's fourth championship!

The next season, Ginóbili played an even bigger role, reaching career-high averages in points, rebounds, and assists. On 11 February 2008, he had an amazing game against the Toronto Raptors, scoring 34 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. This made him the first guard in Spurs history to have at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in a game. On 21 April 2008, the NBA announced that Ginóbili had won the Sixth Man Award, getting almost all the votes! He averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. A few weeks later, he was also named to the All-NBA Third Team. In the playoffs, the Spurs beat the Suns. Ginóbili started in the next round against the New Orleans Hornets and led the Spurs in points and assists. However, San Antonio lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Finals.

In the next season, Ginóbili was injured for most of the time and missed all of the 2009 NBA Playoffs. The Spurs lost in the first round that year.

On 31 October 2009, during a game, a bat flew onto the court! Ginóbili famously swatted the bat to the ground with his hand and carried it off the court, making the crowd cheer. In April 2010, Ginóbili signed a new contract with the Spurs.

In the 2010–11 season, Ginóbili was seen as the most important player on his team. He was injured in the last game of the regular season. Despite the injury, he played well in the playoffs, but the Spurs lost to the Memphis Grizzlies. Ginóbili was named an NBA All-Star for the second time and also made the All-NBA third team.

Later Career and Fourth Championship (2011–2018)

Ginóbili in 2012

In the shorter 2011–12 season, Ginóbili helped the Spurs win 50 games. They reached the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In 2012–13, the Spurs made it to the NBA Finals to play against the Miami Heat. Ginóbili scored a season-high 24 points in Game 5, helping his team take a 3–2 lead. However, the Spurs lost the last two games.

On 11 July 2013, Ginóbili re-signed with the Spurs. In 2013–14, the Spurs had the best record in the league. Ginóbili finished third in the voting for Sixth Man of the Year. In the Western Conference Finals, the "Big Three" of Duncan, Parker, and Ginóbili got their 110th playoff win together, matching a record. The Spurs reached the NBA Finals again, facing the Heat for the second year in a row. This time, they won easily, 4–1, to claim the franchise's fifth championship. Ginóbili won his fourth NBA title!

Ginóbili continued to play for the Spurs. On 14 January 2016, he played his 900th NBA game, all with the Spurs. In February, he had surgery after an injury and was out for a month. He returned in March, scoring 22 points in just 15 minutes.

On 9 November 2016, Ginóbili became one of only two second-round draft picks in NBA history to have over 13,000 career points and at least 1,300 three-pointers.

In Game 5 of the 2017 Western Conference Semifinals, Ginóbili made a game-winning block against James Harden of the Houston Rockets. In the Western Conference Finals, Ginóbili became the first player at age 39 to score 20 or more points off the bench in a playoff game.

Ginóbili re-signed with the Spurs for two more years in August 2017. In January 2018, he became the only player in NBA history to have multiple 20-point games off the bench at age 40 or older. He also became the first player in his 40s to score 15-plus points in back-to-back games since Michael Jordan in 2002–03. On 29 March, he became the Spurs' all-time leader in steals, passing David Robinson. In the 2018 playoffs, Ginóbili played in his 217th playoff game, moving him to sixth all-time in league history. He also passed Reggie Miller for third in career 3-pointers in playoff history. The Spurs lost to the Warriors in five games.

Retirement

On 27 August 2018, Manu Ginóbili announced he was retiring from professional basketball. On 28 March 2019, the Spurs honored him by retiring his No. 20 jersey, meaning no other Spurs player will ever wear that number again.

Career Statistics

Source: Basketball Reference.

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

EuroLeague

Life After Playing Basketball

On 24 September 2021, the San Antonio Spurs announced that Manu Ginóbili was appointed as a special advisor for their basketball operations. This means he helps the team with important decisions.

On 10 September 2022, Ginóbili was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a huge honor for basketball players! He is one of only four Spurs players to be inducted who played only for San Antonio during their entire NBA career. His former teammate, Tim Duncan, introduced him at the ceremony.

Playing for Argentina

Ginóbili was a key player for the very successful Argentina national basketball team, often called the "Golden Generation."

He played with the junior Argentina national team in 1997. He made his debut for the senior national team in 1998. He won a silver medal with Argentina at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

Ginóbili's biggest achievement with the national team was at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. He led Argentina to a gold medal! They became the first team other than Team USA to win the Olympic gold in 16 years. A highlight was his game-winning shot with only 0.7 seconds left against Serbia and Montenegro. Ginóbili led the team in scoring and assists during that tournament.

He also played for Argentina at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where they finished in 4th place. Ginóbili was chosen to carry the flag for Argentina at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Argentina won the bronze medal. Ginóbili played his last international games at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.

How Manu Played

Ginóbili was 6 feet 6 inches tall and played with his left hand. He became known as one of the best "sixth men" in NBA history. A "sixth man" is a player who doesn't start the game but comes off the bench to make a big impact. Manu was a bit older when he joined the NBA at age 25, compared to many players who start as teenagers. He was a reliable and versatile player who could do many things on the court.

Ginóbili was known for his fast and aggressive style. He was also great at making important plays when the game was close. His favorite moves were shooting a three-pointer or driving strongly to the basket. He often lowered his head when driving to draw defenders and create chances for himself or his teammates. Ginóbili helped make the "Euro step" popular in the NBA, a move where a player takes two steps in different directions to get around a defender.

Manu was a true team player. He accepted the Spurs coaches' decision for him to come off the bench for most of his career. He was also known for his tricky passes, like the "no-look pass," where he passes without looking at the receiver. Ginóbili was also willing to draw charges on defense, which means he would stand still to make an offensive player run into him, causing a foul. Sometimes, players might exaggerate contact to get a foul call.

Ginóbili played successfully in both the NBA and in Europe, which have different rules. He is one of only two players in basketball history (along with Bill Bradley) to win the EuroLeague, an Olympic gold medal, and an NBA championship ring. He is also the first non-U.S. player to win both an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal. The Spurs made the NBA playoffs in all 16 of his seasons with the team.

Many experts consider Ginóbili one of the best "draft steals" ever because he was picked so late in the draft (57th overall) but became a superstar. His success helped NBA teams realize the talent in European players.

Awards and Achievements

Awards 2× Italian League MVP: 2001, 2002 3× Italian League All-Star: 1999, 2000, 2001 EuroLeague Final Four MVP: 2001 2× EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer: 2001, 2002 FIBA AmeriCup MVP: 2001 FIBA AmeriCup All-Tournament Team: 2011 FIBA Olympics MVP: 2004 Italian Cup MVP: 2002 2× FIBA World Cup All-Tournament Team: 2002, 2006 Olimpia de Oro: 2003, 2004 2× NBA All-Star: 2005, 2011 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors: 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: 2008 Diamond Konex Award: 2010 Bleacher Report NBA Legends 100 2× All-NBA Third Team: 2008, 2011 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee: 2022

Ginóbili's No. 20 jersey was retired by the San Antonio Spurs in 2019 Titles Italian League champion: 2001 2× Italian Cup winner: 2001, 2002 EuroLeague champion: 2001 Triple Crown winner: 2001 2× FIBA AmeriCup 1 Gold 2001, 2011 FIBA World Cup 2 Silver 2002 4× NBA champion: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 Summer Olympic Games 1 Gold 2004 Summer Olympic Games 3 Bronze: 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament 1 Gold 2008 Personal honours No. 20 retired by the San Antonio Spurs Argentina's No. 5 retired by the CABB

Notes

See also

In Spanish: Manu Ginóbili para niños

• List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff steals leaders
• List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff games played leaders
• List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise
• List of oldest and youngest NBA players