Spurs retire Ginobili’s jersey
Spurs retire Ginobili’s jersey during emotional ceremony
SANANTONIO— ManuGinobili now belongs in the pantheon of Spurs greats. The Spurs retired Ginobili’s No. 20 following a 116-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night. Ginobili and Bill Bradley are the only players to win an NBA championship, Euroleague title and an Olympic gold medal. Ginobili won four NBA titles, coming off the bench for all but 349 of his 1,057 games with the Spurs.
ManuGinobili would have been happy to retire quietly without the Spurs retiring his jersey, but San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said the humble Argentinian has no choice but to accept with the same passion he gave to the game.
“When you’re that great, you have to go through it, so we’re going to make him go through it,” Popovich said.
The Spurs retired Ginobili’s No. 20 following a 116-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
“What am I doing here?” Ginobili said. “I had no expectations of being here when I was growing up.”
He and Bill Bradley are the only players to win an NBA championship, Euroleague title and an Olympic gold medal. Ginobili won four NBA titles with the Spurs. Despite all his accomplishments and talent, Ginobili accepted a role coming off San Antonio’s bench for all but 349 of his 1,057 games during his 16 seasons with the Spurs.
“To me, he’s the definition of Spurs basketball because he had no ego,” former Spurs point guard Tony Parker said.
Parker and Tim Duncan honored the fellow Big Three star during a funny and heartfelt ceremony that also included speeches by Popovich and former Spurs and Argentina teammate Fabricio Oberto.
While Ginobili’s jersey now rests alongside those belonging to Johnny Moore, Avery Johnson, Bruce Bowen, James Silas, Tim Duncan, Sean Elliott, George Gervin and David Robinson, the thousands of No. 20 jerseys worn by the fans in attendance is proof he remains dear to the fans’ heart.
“His presence off the court was always something special,” Popovich said. “The people here took him in as one of their own and he allowed it to happen. He’s a very warm individual and understood his responsibility to the community. It was a great marriage from day one to this day.”
Ginobili spent his entire NBA career with the Spurs, where he became arguably the most beloved player in franchise history.
“First time I’m on the court, you guys are cheering and chanting my name and I felt like you guys had my back,” Ginobili said, thanking the sellout crowd.
Gervin, Robinson, Duncan and Parker are among the most popular but none captured the city’s devotion as much as Ginobili.