A former San Antonio Spurs guard was announced as an inductee for the 2022 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He will become the fourth player who played at least five seasons with the Spurs and the first Argentinian basketball player to join this select group of athletes.
Manu Ginóbili played 16 seasons with the Spurs and built a resume that speaks for itself:
- Olympic Gold Medalist for Argentina (2004)
- Euroleague Title (2001)
- Four-time NBA champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
- Two-time NBA All-Star (2005, 2011)
- Two-time All-NBA third team (2008, 2011)
- Sixth Man of the Year (2007-2008)
- All-Rookie Team (2002-2003)
Becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer was a guarantee for Ginóbili. He was one of the select few players that helped pave the way for future international talent to make their way to the NBA like Luka Dončić, Joel Embid, Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo
The way Ginóbili played the game was something the league had not yet seen. He brought a new way to score and distribute the ball with finesse. His patent euro-step became a move players like Kyrie Irving and James Harden have adopted into their play style.
Although Ginóbili was capable of being a starter, his role with the Spurs was to come off the bench as the sixth man in the rotation. Hall of Fame players like Scottie Pippen and Jason Kidd have credited Ginóbili for taking pride in that role instead of letting his ego get the best of him.
Playing alongside Tim Duncan and Tony Parker helped Ginóbili embrace his role, which became vital for the Spurs to win four championships.
Ginóbili, Duncan and Parker remain the winningest trio in NBA history.
From the long-haired to bald spot versions of Ginobili to slapping the bat out of the air during a game, he is beloved in the Spurs community.
Ginóbili’s impact transcended further than the basketball court. After he retired in 2018, he was hired as the Spurs’ special adviser to basketball operations three years later, which focuses on player development on and off the court.
The induction ceremony will take place on Sept. 10 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Ginóbili will join fellow inductees such as Tim Hardaway, George Karl and Bob Huggins.
