The kid who wanted to be taller, the skinny guy with an explosive start and indecipherable dribbling, the most seasoned defender and the most dangerous shooter, the long-haired man who challenged the NBA, who lost his hair, but gained respect. Manu.
The immeasurable magnitude of Emanuel Ginóbili in world sport will be exposed again this Saturday when in the Mecca of basketball he receives the tribute that he lacked, the last step towards Olympus, a space reserved for the gods of this that is played with an orange ball.
Manu is far from needing to earn the unconditional love of those he defended with his jersey, from Bahia to San Antonio passing through Bologna, the most formidable basketball player born in Argentina already has his 20 shirt flying from the roof of the Spurs stadium and now he will wear the orange jacket that will reflect his character as an undisputed symbol at the Naismith Memorial itself, in which it will undoubtedly be an emotional ceremony that the left-hander has been throbbing for a long time, in a clear sign that the situation has shaken his usual calm.
Family, friends, former teammates from here and there, former coaches from here and there will be present at the invitation of Manu and the organization in another of those incredible nights, that destabilize, that make us rethink if it is a dream, if it is possible. that a kid from Bahiense del Norte could get there, to the land of Springfield where a certain James put together a game for his students with little more than a few baskets and a ball.
But it is far from being a dream, it is all as fair, deserved and moving as those nights of epics and feats given to the national team and the Spurs to earn the respect of all the sports giants in any language.
The one who will give Manu’s presentation speech for his induction into the Hall of Fame will be a certain Tim Duncan, companion of innumerable victories (in reality they are numbered) and deep friend of the talented dribbler from Bahia.
Manu reviewed his career on social networks during the week, heaping thanks to all or almost all of those who in some way participated in this extensive journey, for which he hinted that he takes it as a final tribute, a closing, in the highest recognition to which a basketball player could aspire.
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Red carpet at 7:00 p.m., ceremony from 8:00 p.m., initially on NBA TV and Directv for the first Argentine to achieve this madness, just the third Latin American (the others, the Brazilians Oscar and Bira), the 22nd non-American of the less than 250 players who got this tribute in a group that barely exceeds 400 including managers, referees and coaches.
Along with the Bahiense, former basketball players Tim Hardaway and Swin Cash, coach George Karl and college coach Bob Huggins were chosen.
Also on hand are Hugh Evans (Referee), Lindsay Whalen (Player), Marianne Stanley (Coach), Lou Hudson (Player, Posthumous), Larry Costello (Assistant and Coach, Posthumous), Del Harris (Assistant and Coach), Theresa Shank -Grentz (veteran player) and Radivoj Korac (international player, posthumous recognition).
