Argentine basketball still seeks to understand the importance of what has been achieved by Manu Ginobili 10 days ago. After 16 years in the NBA and 23 seasons of professional career, the Bahiense was presented as a member of the Hall of Fame, an achievement impossible to dream even for himself. The ceremony in general and his speech in particular moved all sports fans, but did not impress Shaquille O’Neal.
The Los Angeles Lakers ex-ivot often attracts attention with his spicy statements on the famous Inside the NBA program or on his own show, called The Big Podcast. Over there, Shaq nothing is kept and is not afraid of confrontation with stars of the present or the past and aimed against Ginobili for an unfortunate reason: “Real gamers like Spice Adams [un comediante que es parte del podcast] or I don’t cry, there are no tears in basketball,” he shot after feigning emotion to make fun of the Argentine.
During his speech, Manu He was moved when talking about Gregg Popovich, historical coach of the San Antonio Spurs, and about his father Jorge: “Dad… how I would have liked you to be here and to be able to understand what is happening today. My first faithful and biggest follower I miss you a lot, old man,” he said. Ginobili while fighting not to give in to tears.
However, it was all in the key of a joke, as it usually is with O’Neal. The 50-year-old former player melted into Ginobili and was genuinely pleased with his achievement: “I am happy for Manuwithout doubts he deserved to be there”, assured later.
Logically, the joke of O’Nealwho was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, can be interpreted as distasteful, but it in no way reflects what the four-time champion of the NBA think about Ginobilianother four-time league champion.
