SIXTHMAN, NO. 1 IN RESPECT
Ginobili isn’t sure he’ll return, but his legacy is set
On the morning before AT& T Center became the site of Manu Ginobili’s unofficial goodbye party, Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant sat next to the court and popped a fistful of vitamins into his 28- year- old body.
“Just trying to last like Manu,” Durant said with a laugh Monday about the 39year- old San Antonio Spurs legend.
Some 10 hours later, when the building was packed with 18,466 of Ginobili’s closest friends who will now wait to hear if he’s ready to retire, that ability to inspire could be seen and heard from the floor to the rafters. They chanted his name. They cheered his every move. Then the admiration overflowed from the stands onto the floor.
With less than three minutes left in the Warriors’ NBA Western Conference finals sweep, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made the curtain call move as Stephen Curry headed for the line. The back- to- back MVP waited to shoot his free throw when Ginobili headed to the bench, clapping with the other players who grew to admire the man who went from Argentina to the 57th pick in the 1999 draft to Spurs lore. Next up, as the Warriors’ Draymond Green said afterward, first ballot Hall of Fame status.
Ginobili took his seat, then waited for the final seconds to tick away. He kissed his fist and pointed to the sky on his way through the tunnel, and he was gone.
You won’t find a more overwhelming display of respect than the one that might have capped Ginobili’s storied career. It was fitting that it happened against the Warriors, too, considering the subtle impact his story had on their recent stretch of dominance.
When Steve Kerr was hired to coach the Warriors in the summer of 2014, he knew he wanted to persuade Andre Iguodala to come off the bench. Never mind that the veteran small forward had been a starter throughout his career. Kerr, who won a championship alongside Ginobili in his final season as a player before retiring in 2003, wanted Iguodala to follow in his sixth man footsteps.
So Ginobili became part of his pitch, with Kerr mentioning this model in which a star player could empower his team and win titles by making the selfless decision to fortify the bench. Iguodala, who has acknowledged that the “sixth man stigma” was a mental hurdle, bought in. Three years, three Finals berths, one title and one Finals MVP later, the plan has worked.
“He’s going to be remembered for the ( four) titles and the scoring and all that other stuff, but you talk about a guy that’s as talented as he is, who could’ve done anything in the NBA for many years, he was humble enough to be one of the first to accept coming off the bench graciously,” said Warriors acting head coach Mike Brown, who was a Spurs assistant from 2000 to 2003 and spent much of last season shadowing the Spurs coaching staff while pondering his next move. “That speaks volumes. And in my opinion, it’s helped set a trend going forward.”
The unusual part of Ginobili’s finale was that he started. Popovich was already without Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and David Lee, so it made sense to play him more. He logged 32 minutes, hitting six of 12 shots and ending with a 15- point, seven- assist line thatmade you wonder if maybe he’s not done after all. There is no verdict, with Ginobili planning to discuss the decision with his wife before making the final call.
“Of course I’m getting closer and closer ( to retirement) — that’s no secret for sure,” said Ginobili, who has twin 7- yearold sons and a 3- year- old son with his wife. “It’s getting harder and harder. But I always said that I wanted to let it sink in for three weeks, four weeks, whatever. And then I’ll sit with my wife and ( see) how it feels. Whatever I decide to do, I’ll be a happy camper. I have to choose between two wonderful, truly wonderful options.
“One is to keep playing in this league at this age, enjoying every day and playing the sport I still love. The other one is stay at home, be a dad, travel more, enjoy my whole family — I have a wonderful family — and spend time with them. Whatever it is, it’s two unbelievable options. There’s no way I can be sad, whatever I decide.”
Even with the disappointment that came with the series sweep and the Spurs’ title hopes dashed, AT& T Center was a joyous place. Ginobili, same as he ever was, inspiring until the end.
“I’m a Manu Ginobili fan,” Curry said while speaking for millions of others. “You could tell how much he’s meant to this organization, to this city. Obviously a true champion. The way that he plays the game, you have no choice but to just love watching him play. His creativity, his passion for the game every night, he’s given a lot to the game.”