One of the NBA’s most beloved players Manu Ginobili has announced his retirement from the sport after 16 straight seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. His announcement came via his Twitter and Instagram accounts as he posted the following message:
“Today, with a wide range of feelings, I’m announcing my retirement from basketball. IMMENSE GRATITUDE to everyone (family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, fans) involved in my life in the last 23 years. It’s been a fabulous journey. Way beyond my wildest dreams.”
His retirement has actually been rumored for about a week now. On August 22nd, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Ginobili was “seriously considering” retirement and would speak to coach Gregg Popovich regarding his future in basketball later that week. Well, I guess that conversation ultimately culminated in Manu’s decision to hang up his shoes for the last time. The Spurs wanted Ginobili back for a 17th season more for his wisdom and experience than anything else. He would’ve joined a rather guard rotation with Dejounte Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Lonnie Walker IV, and Patty Mills. Last season, Ginobili only averaged 20 minutes a game, to go along with 8.9 PPG on 43.4% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point land, as well as 2.2 RPG and 2.5 APG.
With the retirement of Ginobili, the last member of the big three in San Antonio has left the team. Tim Duncan retired after the 2015-2016 NBA season, and this offseason, Tony Parker signed a contract with the Charlotte Hornets. Of course, Popovich is still with the team, as he was the coach of the big three, but as for the players, they’re all gone.
Ginobili was the kind of player who was willing to sacrifice a starting role if it were to mean more success for the team. He took the orders called out by Gregg Popovich and did exactly what was asked of him. In just his second season with the team in 2003, they won their 2nd championship. Then, just 2 years later they locked up another one. And in 2007, another one. Manu’s 4th and final title came in 2014 as the Spurs took down LeBron James and the Miami Heat in a 5-game series.
Manu helped establish the Spurs as the most consistent winning team in basketball. In all of Ginobili’s 16 seasons in the league, he made the playoffs. His team also never won less than 47 games in a single season. He knew he would never be the face of the franchise, with players like Duncan, Parker, and Kawhi Leonard taking the spotlight. But that was perfect for Manu as long as they won. And win they did. On top of the 4 championships, he was also a 2-time NBA All-Star, first in 2005 and again in 2011. And for his ability to lead the bench unit, he won NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2008. But perhaps his most amazing feat is beating the US men’s basketball team in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. Leading the Argentina national team, Ginobili was able to take down the stacked US team for gold, dethroning the US of their 16-year reign as world champions.
Ginobili retires as one of the greatest role players and international players in the history of the game. I am certain that it will not be the same watching the Spurs next season without number 20 on the court. But I can’t wait until we see his banner hang in the rafters of the AT&T Center.
