Emanuel Ginobili is widely regarded as one of the most influential international players in NBA history. After establishing himself in Argentina and Europe, he joined the San Antonio Spurs, where he quickly became a cornerstone of the franchise. Manu’s success contributed to the team winning four NBA championships, and he has since etched his name in Spurs history. Now retired, he has chosen the greatest player in basketball history.
“I think the player that will be mentioned forever is Jordan, he’s unmatched,” Ginobili said in a 2022 interview with Alejandro Perez. “My motivation was always Michael Jordan, because of him I played basketball. I always wanted to fly like him. I never thought of being an immortal like Jordan is.”
Manu also shared his thoughts on what it was like to face Jordan on the court, during his rookie season with the Spurs, as MJ was playing his final games with the Washington Wizards. “I only played five seconds against him (thank you again, Pop!), but it didn’t matter. Such an inspiration,” he recalled of the December 21, 2002 game, in which San Antonio defeated Washington 92-81.
“Remember watching the VHS collection and sprinting to the court to try to do some of those things. I used to talk to his life-size poster in my bedroom after games!” Ginobili added in a post on his official Instagram account in 2022.
San Antonio Spurs stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Emanuel Ginobili during the 2009-10 NBA season.
Ginobili talks about LeBron James
In the ongoing debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James, Ginobili made it clear how he feels about both. “Jordan touches intimate fibers for me; I grew up watching him. It’s emotional, he was a huge inspiration for me,” the former shooting guard began in a 2020 interview with TN. “But as a teammate, I would choose LeBron James. That kind of competitor was always tough.”
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Three years later, when LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Ginobili expressed his admiration for the accomplishment. “Incredible,” he said in an interview with reporter Jeff Barker. “What he has accomplished, with all the pressure and all the responsibilities, and everything he had to carry with him everywhere he went, he was able to sustain that level, do it the right way, being always respectful… chapeau, he’s an incredible athlete.”
Manu faced LeBron James in three NBA Finals, winning in 2007 against the Cleveland Cavaliers and in 2014 against the Miami Heat, while losing to him in 2013. “LeBron James was a good opponent in the Finals,” Manu assured in the 2022 interview with Alejandro Perez. However, he made an unexpected confession: “But the one I feared the most from Miami was Dwyane Wade; what a heart this guy had for basketball.”
The bond between Ginobili and Kobe Bryant
One of the players Ginobili faced most frequently during his 16 years in the NBA was Kobe Bryant. “When I first matched up with him, and he was real shifty with the ball, he just shifted one way, went the other way, and I was like, ‘Who the hell is this kid?’” the Los Angeles Lakers icon recounted.
“Manu is a champion, he’s one of my favorite players. He’s very smart and works hard. That’s why he was a champion in the NBA too,” Kobe said during an interview in 2016. Two years later, after Ginobili’s retirement, Bryant called him “one of the best I have ever matched up with.”
NBA stars weigh in on Ginobili
Following his retirement in 2018, Ginobili received heartfelt messages from some of the NBA’s biggest stars. “The game of basketball has you to thank for the most swag move in basketball right now, which is the Euro Step,” wrote LeBron James on X.
“You embody how basketball is meant to be played—with passion, joy, and obviously, a champion through and through,” said Stephen Curry. “One of the best to ever do it. Thank you for pushing the game forward and for showing players all around the world what a true champion looks like,” said Dwyane Wade. In addition, James Harden named him as his favorite left-handed player of all time.
Ginobili’s impressive career
Emanuel Ginobili began his career in Argentina, playing for Andino and Estudiantes de Bahia Blanca. In 1998, he moved to Europe to join Viola Reggio Calabria before later signing with Virtus Bologna. During his time in Italy, Ginobili shone, winning the 2001 Italian League Championship, the 2001 and 2002 Italian Cups, and the 2001 EuroLeague. He was named EuroLeague Finals MVP and twice earned Italian League MVP honors.
This success paved the way for his NBA career. Although Manu had been selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 NBA Draft with the 57th overall pick, he didn’t join the team until the 2002-03 season. In his first year, he helped the Spurs secure the NBA championship by defeating the New Jersey Nets in the Finals.
From that point, Ginobili became an integral player for the Spurs alongside Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, despite not being part of the starting lineup for much of his career. In fact, he earned the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2008. Over his 16-season NBA career, Ginobili won four championships, was a two-time All-Star, earned a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame, and had his No. 20 jersey retired by the Spurs.
On the international stage, Ginobili also enjoyed remarkable success, leading Argentina to the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. In a historic victory, they defeated Team USA in the semifinals, becoming the only country to deny the United States gold in the last nine Olympic Games.
