Manu Ginóbili facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Manu Ginóbili

Ginóbili with the San Antonio Spurs in 2010
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) EuroLeague 25th Anniversary Team (2025)
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 played basketball for 23 years! Manu started his career in Argentina, then moved to Italy for four years. Later, he joined the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2002. He played his entire 16-year NBA career with the Spurs.

Manu also played for the Argentine national team for 16 years. He is known for popularizing a move called the Euro step in the NBA. Many people consider him one of the greatest basketball players ever. He is also seen as one of the best Latin American players and one of the best "sixth men" (a key player who comes off the bench) in NBA history.

Manu came from a family of basketball players. He won many awards and championships in Argentina and Italy. His time with the Italian club Kinder Bologna was very successful. There, he won two Italian League MVP awards and the 2001 EuroLeague championship. After joining the San Antonio Spurs, Manu became a four-time NBA champion. He was part of the "Big Three" with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. This trio led the Spurs to great success from 2002 to 2016.

Manu was named an NBA All-Star twice, in 2005 and 2011. He was also selected for the All-NBA Third Team twice. In the 2007–08 season, he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. Manu led Argentina to a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was named the MVP of that tournament. He also helped Argentina achieve a historic feat: being the only team to ever eliminate the United States basketball team in Olympic history.

With this Olympic victory, Manu became one of only two players in history to win a EuroLeague title, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal. Since September 2021, Manu has worked as a special advisor for the Spurs' basketball operations. In April 2022, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Manu's Early Life and Family

Emanuel David Ginóbili was born on 28 July 1977. He grew up in Bahía Blanca, a city in Argentina. His parents are Jorge Hector Ginóbili and Raquel Maccari. Manu's family loved basketball! His father, Jorge, was a coach at a local club. This is where Manu first learned to play.

Manu's older brothers, Leandro and Sebastián, were also professional basketball players. Leandro played for seven years in Argentina. Sebastián played in Argentina and Spain. Growing up, Manu looked up to the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan. Manu has dual citizenship for Argentina and Italy because his family has Italian roots.

Besides his native Spanish, Manu also speaks English and Italian. In his free time, he enjoys Latin music, watching movies, and traveling. He also likes cycling and playing tennis. In 2004, he married Marianela Oroño. They have three sons: twin boys Dante and Nicola, born in 2010, and Luca, born in 2014.

Manu's Journey to Professional Basketball

Manu Ginóbili's professional basketball journey began in Argentina, then took him to Italy, and finally to the NBA.

Playing in Argentina

Manu started his professional career in the Argentine basketball league. He played for the Andino Sport Club in the 1995–96 season. In 1996, he moved to his hometown team, Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca. He played there until 1998.

Playing in Italy

In 1998, Manu moved to Europe to play for the Italian team Basket Viola Reggio Calabria. He played there for two seasons. In 1999, he helped his team get promoted from the Italian 2nd Division to the top Italian 1st Division.

After being picked by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA draft (as the 57th overall pick), Manu decided to stay in Italy. He joined Kinder Bologna. With this team, he won the 2001 Italian League Championship and two Italian Cups. He also helped them win the 2001 EuroLeague championship. Manu was named the EuroLeague Finals MVP in 2001. He also earned the Italian League MVP award twice.

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

Becoming an NBA Star with the San Antonio Spurs

In 2002, Manu Ginóbili finally joined the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. This began a legendary 16-year career with the team.

First NBA Championship Win

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

Manu joined the Spurs for the 2002–03 NBA season. He often played as a backup guard. Manu had some injuries early on and found it tricky to get used to the NBA's style. But as he got better, so did his play. He even won the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award in March.

Manu became a very important player during the 2003 NBA Playoffs. The Spurs went on to win their second championship! After this big win, Manu received his first Olimpia de Oro award. This award is for Argentina's best sportsperson of the year. A gym in his hometown of Bahía Blanca was also named in his honor.

In the 2003–04 NBA season, Manu played more games as a starter. His stats improved a lot, averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. In the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Spurs lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

More Championships and Awards

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

Manu signed a new contract with the Spurs and started every game in the 2004–05 NBA season. This was one of his best seasons! He was chosen by NBA coaches to play in the 2005 Western Conference All-Star team. In the 2005 NBA Playoffs, Manu's amazing play helped the Spurs win their third championship. He had career-high numbers in the playoffs, averaging 20.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He was the second-leading scorer for the team that season. Manu also won his second Olimpia de Oro award.

The 2005–06 NBA season was tough for Manu due to foot and ankle injuries. He played fewer games and his stats dipped. The Spurs were eliminated in the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks.

In the 2006–07 NBA season, Manu often came off the bench. This helped the Spurs play better and achieve one of the best records in the league. In the 2007 NBA Playoffs, Manu helped the Spurs win their fourth championship. This was Manu's third NBA title!

The 2007–08 NBA season was even bigger for Manu. He achieved career-high averages in points, rebounds, and assists. In April 2008, Manu won the Sixth Man Award. This award goes to the best player who usually comes off the bench. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team. The Spurs reached the Conference Finals but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Manu was injured for much of the 2008–09 San Antonio Spurs season, playing only 44 games. He missed the entire 2009 NBA Playoffs. The Spurs were eliminated in the first round that year.

In October 2009, during a game, a bat flew onto the court! Manu famously swatted the bat to the ground and carried it off the court, to the cheers of the crowd. In April 2010, Manu signed a new contract with the Spurs.

In the 2010–11 season, Manu was seen as a key player for his team. He was named an NBA All-Star for the second time. He also made the All-NBA third team again.

Later Years and Milestones

Ginóbili in 2012

In the shorter 2011–12 season, Manu helped the Spurs achieve a great record. They reached the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In 2012–13, the Spurs made it to the 2013 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. Manu had a season-high 24 points in one game, helping the Spurs take a series lead. However, the Heat won the last two games.

In 2013–14, the Spurs had the best record in the league. Manu finished third in the voting for Sixth Man of the Year. The Spurs reached the 2014 NBA Finals again, facing the Heat. This time, the Spurs won the series 4–1, claiming their fifth championship. Manu won his fourth NBA title!

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

In November 2016, Manu reached 13,000 career points. He became one of only two second-round draft picks in NBA history to have 13,000 points and at least 1,300 three-pointers.

In the 2017 playoffs, Manu made a game-winning block in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. In the Western Conference Finals, at age 39, he became the first player that old to score 20 or more points off the bench in a playoff game.

In January 2018, Manu 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. In March, Manu became the Spurs' all-time leader in steals. The Spurs lost in the first round of the playoffs that year.

Retirement from Basketball

On 27 August 2018, Manu Ginóbili announced he was retiring from professional basketball. He was one of the few players to spend his entire NBA career with just one team. On 28 March 2019, the Spurs honored Manu by retiring his No. 20 jersey. This means no other Spurs player will ever wear that number again.

Manu's Career Statistics

Here are some of Manu Ginóbili's career statistics from his time in the NBA and EuroLeague.

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. He helps with basketball operations for the team.

On 10 September 2022, Manu became the 12th player from the San Antonio Spurs to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a huge honor! He is one of only four Spurs players who played their entire NBA career with San Antonio to be inducted. His former teammate, Tim Duncan, presented Manu at the ceremony.

Representing Argentina: National Team Career

Manu Ginóbili was a key member of a very successful Argentina national basketball team. This team is often called the "Golden Generation" of Argentine basketball.

Junior Team Experience

Manu played for Argentina's junior national team in 1997. His team finished in 4th place at the FIBA Under-21 World Championship.

Golden Generation and Olympic Gold

Manu made his debut for the senior Argentina national basketball team in 1998. He played at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and helped his team win a silver medal. Manu'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 competition in 16 years.

A memorable moment was his game-winning shot with only 0.7 seconds left against Serbia and Montenegro. Manu was the team's top scorer, averaging 19.3 points per game. He also led the team in assists.

Manu played with Argentina at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where his team finished in 4th place. He was the flag bearer for Argentina at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Argentina won the bronze medal. Manu also competed at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Argentina narrowly missed out on a bronze medal there. Manu played his last international games at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.

Manu Ginóbili's Unique Playing Style

Manu Ginóbili was known for his exciting and effective playing style. He was 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 205 pounds. He played as a shooting guard and was left-handed. Manu became famous as one of the greatest "sixth men" in NBA history. He was a reliable and versatile player.

Manu was known for his fast and aggressive style. He was also great at making important plays when the game was close. His favorite moves included shooting three-pointers or driving strongly to the basket. He often lowered his head when driving to draw in defenders. This created chances for him to score or pass to teammates. Manu also helped make the "Euro step" move popular in the NBA.

Manu was a true team player. He accepted the Spurs coaches' decision to often come off the bench. He was also known for his tricky passes, like the no-look pass. Manu was also willing to draw charges on defense.

Gregg Popovich, his coach, once said about Manu: "He has a willingness to do what it takes to win, and to do it at the highest possible level of intensity, every single minute he steps on the court."

Manu had success playing basketball all over the world. 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. Manu is also the first non-U.S. player to win both an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal. He is the second Latin American player to be chosen for an NBA All-Star game. The Spurs made the NBA playoffs in all 16 of his NBA seasons!

Many experts consider Manu one of the best international players in the NBA. His success showed other NBA teams that drafting talented European players could lead to great results.

Manu's Amazing Achievements

Here are some of the incredible awards and titles Manu Ginóbili earned throughout his career:

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 EuroLeague 25th Anniversary Team: 2025 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