Spurs Legends
San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili heads to NBA Hall of Fame
San Antonio legend Manu Ginobili is headed to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Known for his aggressive style of play as well as his hustle, the former Spurs great enters the hall after a 16-year NBA career spent entirely with San Antonio, during which he won four NBA titles and was selected to two All-Star and two All-NBA teams. He counts the Sixth Man award and the All-Rookie team among his other NBA honors.
The Argentinean-born Ginobili spent the early part of his career in the Euro-League before San Antonio took him with the 57th overall pick of the 1999 draft. However, he remained in Europe for several more seasons, where he won a league title as well as the Finals MVP award before joining the Spurs for the 2002-2003 season. Alongside fellow stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, the trio formed the Spurs’ “Big Three” that would propel the team to NBA championships in three of Ginobili’s first five NBA seasons.
While his two All-Star selections represent the lowest total among all other Basketball Hall-of-Fame members who played in the NBA, the now 44-year-old’s overall contributions to the game as a proven winner both in the NBA and on the world stage provided more than enough credentials for his selection. Thanks in large part to him, Argentina rose to prominence in international competition during his career, culminating in an Olympic gold medal in the 2004 Athens games.
Ginobili retired following the 2017-2018 season at age 40. He ranks in the top five in Spurs team history in most major statistical categories and is the reigning franchise leader in three-point attempts made and steals. His .721 winning percentage as an NBA player (min. 1,000 games) is the highest in history.
Since retiring, Ginobili has divided his time mostly between San Antonio and his native Argentina. He recently returned to the Spurs’ front office as a special advisor to basketball operations where his responsibilities include player development on and off the court.
The rest of the 2022 Hall of Fame class includes former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway, WNBA forward Swin Cash, NBA coach George Karl, and college coach Bob Huggins. Ginobili will join his old teammate, Tim Duncan, who was enshrined in Springfield in 2020. The final member of the Big Three, Tony Parker, should join them soon after, possibly as soon as next year, when he is first eligible.