This weekend, in Springfield, Massachusetts, far from Bahia Blanca in Argentina where he was born, Manu Ginobili will return to the Hall of Fame. The supreme consecration for any basketball player, and the logical end to the immense career of one of the greatest competitors in the history of basketball.
Where to start.
By the evidence, perhaps? Send the CV in a somewhat formal way?
Let’s see.
Emanuel David Ginóbili Maccariborn July 28, 1977 in Bahia Blanca, a coastal town located 600 miles south of Buenos Aires.
23 professional seasons played in the fantastic universe of basketball, 16 in the NBA, 7 outside the NBA.
16 seasons spent in the NBA, 16 with the Spurs, 16 years wearing this black and white jersey like Batman wears his cape, chasing bats with his bare hands on certain autumn evenings (sic).
Manu, one of only two players in the history of our sport to have won, inspiration1 EuroLeague champion title, 1 NBA champion title and 1 Olympic champion title.
Manu, the man who democratized Eurostep in the NBA long before the James Harden and other Ja Morants of the last decade took it over and improved it.
I repeat.
Manu, the man who democratized Eurostep in the NBA.
There are what, 2 All-Star Game selections (only), 1 title of 6th man of the year (only) and a 57th place in the 1999 Draft (only)?
Boarf…
Three times nothing.
It is still much worse than multiple All-Stars, who have been drafted high, are emblematic commercial figures of their generation and whose jersey has sold and is still selling in abundance. We are very far from the greatest players in this sport on paper, the highest paid athletes of all time. Or as some geniuses on Twitter would say, he’s not even an NBA starter lol.
So yes, it’s true. When we see this CV, we want to say gently amigos.
And yet, all those who have lived the career of Manu Ginobili let go of a smile by reading these few lines.
Why ? Well simply because El Manu, it was much more than that. And it was even, by definition, the perfect opposite of a simple CV.
“For us non-American players, sometimes it’s hard to believe in ourselves and dream of great accomplishments. But you allowed us to dream big, and you showed us that we could be great players in this League. – Giannis Antetokounmpo
“You represent exactly how basketball should be played. With passion, with joy, and being a great champion all along. –Stephen Curry
“You were the person I looked at first, when I decided I was going to be 6th man for good. We will miss your style, your talent, your competitive spirit and your desire to win. – Jamal Crawford
There are always very different ways of looking at basketball and enjoying it. Everyone has their own thing, everyone has their own way of developing their passion. It’s even quite funny to observe, in the great shared accommodation of NBA fans. In one corner, we have the kings of highlights. In another, we have the pros of statistics and advanced stats. We also have the fervent defenders of their franchise, or their player, the FC LeBron or the ThunderFan77 of our networks. There are the mufflers, the podcasters, the I don’t watch live games but also the I watch all the matches live. There are basketball players who watch basketball, and non-athletes who shoot at the NBA. There are the readers, the clashers, the trollers, the fans of posters, of crossovers, of big counters. The it was better before and the ok boomer. The i hate curry and the j’adore Curry. We have those who criticize for the sake of criticizing, and those who intervene to advance the subject. There are those who constantly think about the past, and those who can’t remember what happened 48 hours ago. There are the kings of the collective, and the madmen of isolation.
And in the middle of it all? There is Manu Ginobili.
The man who does not fit into any box, but who is nevertheless unanimous.
Nobody, and I mean nobody who has seen or known the career of Manu Ginobili can hate this player. It is strictly impossible.
Go ahead, ask around. It’s just not decently possible to hate this player.
Spectacular ? Winner? Humble ? Check, check, check.
Represent his country with love? Give absolutely everything on the pitch? Not too much money? Check, check, check.
Loyal to his teams? Perfect teammate? Smart on and off the pitch? Check, check, check.
Technical? Athletic? Versatile ? Check, check, check.
The only lobby that can blame Manu Ginobili is that of the hairdressers. And even the biggest bald people in this world thanked him for what he did.
More seriously, there is something absolutely obvious and unanimous about Manu that makes him a living legend, and not just in the NBA. How many countries would dream of seeing an athlete explode a sport, hoisting an entire people on his shoulders to go to the top of the world, the Olympic gold medal? And how many of those players would freak out over their notoriety, end up in disturbing stories, or complain about their playing time and responsibilities? Who, in this world, can combine so much determination to win any match, the collective dimension to get there, and humility in victory as in defeat… for more than 20 years?
So yes, some suspected the pen that was going to write this paper.
And yes, I’m not going to hide it because I’ve often said it: no player will make me feel what Manu Ginobili made me feel during his career.
It is a love that cannot be shared, because it is unique.
But it’s also good, sometimes, to take the time to tell someone you love them.
So why do I like Manu Ginobili?
For all these passages in force provoked at 40 years old. For all those crazy actions in the fourth quarter. For that dunk on Chris Bosh’s head, for the goblets shoved under Tim Duncan’s ass when he sits on the bench. For these improvisations in full dead time, this stupid foul on Dirk who leaves at and one, but these three-pointers returned in stride because I could only excuse you. For this Argentinian jersey worn with the pride of a child in front of his father, for this inability to give up the slightest match. For this madness with Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni and the Golden Generation. For this trio with Manu, Tim and the Spurs.
For those smiles, those press conferences, for that awareness of the world you lived in, not just as an athlete but also as a role model for young people to follow. For this absolute respect for your opponents as they have respected you, for this ultimate sense of sacrifice for the good of the collective. For the abandonment of your body on the basketball courts, for that angry fist closed after a big basket, for that nose, oh that nose. For these flights, these Eurosteps, these Bodiroga lassos, these side-steps, for these real technical lessons given all these years. For this jersey systematically tucked into the shorts, because that’s what we were told to do when we were little.
For this career model brought to our sport but which no one really wants to follow, for the simple fact of having tried it. For this name on the front of the shirt which has always been more important than the one on the back. For these collective records, this extraordinary domination if we take a closer look. For this simplicity of things, faced with the immensity of your accomplishments. For those coffees with Boris, those photos with Tiago and Patty. For those bewildered faces with every take, every selfie. For this combination of so close and so far, so close to us in these daily gestures, and so far from the greatness of acts and accomplishments. For this permanent serenity, that of having in mind and in his heart a player that any team, any coach, any teammate and any fan would like to have.
For this class, simply, and this representation of the Spurs dynasty better than anyone.
For all of this and more, thank you.
Thank you, Manu Ginobili.
Manu Ginobili « One More » Passes pic.twitter.com/wohcVytP0S
— Half Court Hoops (@HalfCourtHoops) July 13, 2019
