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The NBA’s all-time postseason veterans: Who played the most playoff games? - Bolavip US

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The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs</a> are building a team for the next decade. They already have the last two Rookies of the Year, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, and added the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Dylan Harper. The guard recently spoke about his early days in the league and recognized the significant influence Manu Ginobili is having on his transition.



“I talk to him the most. About just the game and the speed and just how he adapted to it from a FIBA standpoint to coming over here,” <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/dylan-harper">Harper</a> said about Ginobili in a recent interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape.



While <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/manu-ginobili">Manu</a> and Dylan followed very different paths to the NBA, the Argentine icon’s experience can still serve as valuable guidance for the rookie. That adjustment Harper mentioned was relatively quick for Ginobili—he arrived in the United States as one of Europe’s biggest stars and helped the Spurs win the 2003 NBA title in his rookie season.



On the topics they’ve discussed, the 19-year-old guard revealed: “What was his biggest changes being a player and being professional outside of basketball? What kept you locked in? Just all little things I think that every NBA player goes through.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20250710_BUS_437682_Dylan-Harper-2-1-1024x576_03ca83d9.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Dylan Harper in 2025" class="wp-image-425717" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/24155853/Dylan-Harper-2-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/24155853/Dylan-Harper-2-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/24155853/Dylan-Harper-2-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/24155853/Dylan-Harper-2-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/24155853/Dylan-Harper-2-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/24155853/Dylan-Harper-2-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/24155853/Dylan-Harper-2-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/24155853/Dylan-Harper-2-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Dylan Harper playing for the Rutgers on January 25, 2025.</figcaption></figure>



Harper entered the league as one of the most exciting young prospects, along with Cooper Flagg. He earned that status with an impressive stint at Rutgers during the 2024–25 season, where he averaged 19.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in 29 games.


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Upon arriving in San Antonio, Dylan didn’t just get the chance to speak with Ginobili—he also interacted with other Spurs legends, including recently retired head coach Gregg Popovich and five-time <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA</a> champion Tim Duncan.



“I met Pop the first day I was there, and Tim,” Harper shared. “Pop was there getting treatment and doing exercises. That is not regular in any NBA gym. You see a Hall of Fame coach, a Hall of Fame player walking around the gym. And they are there like every day. I can pick their brain and ask questions.”



With their focus now on the upcoming season, the Spurs are aiming to end a long playoff drought that has lasted several seasons. They’ve missed the postseason for six straight years, and in their last two appearances in 2018 and 2019, they were eliminated in the first round. Now, with a young core beginning to come together, the outlook is far more promising.


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San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper discusses Manu Ginobili’s impact in early NBA career

Dylan Harper’s contract: How much will the San Antonio Spurs point guard be paid?

Dylan Harper’s profile: Age, height, career and more about the San Antonio Spurs player

San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper discusses Manu Ginobili's impact in early NBA career - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/manu-ginobili">Emanuel Ginobili</a> 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 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/michael-jordan">Jordan</a> 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.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20250309_BUS_351415_Ginobili-Parker-Duncan-1024x576_3c266ad8.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-351417" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/08205131/Ginobili-Parker-Duncan-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/08205131/Ginobili-Parker-Duncan-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/08205131/Ginobili-Parker-Duncan-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/08205131/Ginobili-Parker-Duncan-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/08205131/Ginobili-Parker-Duncan-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/08205131/Ginobili-Parker-Duncan-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/08205131/Ginobili-Parker-Duncan-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/08205131/Ginobili-Parker-Duncan.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>San Antonio Spurs stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Emanuel Ginobili during the 2009-10 NBA season.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Ginobili talks about LeBron James</h2>



In the ongoing debate between Michael Jordan and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a>, 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 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA</a>’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.”



<h2>The bond between Ginobili and Kobe Bryant</h2>



One of the players Ginobili faced most frequently during his 16 years in the NBA was <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kobe-bryant">Kobe Bryant</a>. “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.”



<h2>NBA stars weigh in on Ginobili</h2>



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.



<h2>Ginobili’s impressive career</h2>



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. &nbsp;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 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs</a> 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.

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San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili picks the greatest NBA player of all time - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/manu-ginobili-mourns-the-death-of-diego-maradona-20201125-0010.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manu Ginóbili</a> changed the game in a way, the Argentine was a pioneer of the Euro step, was a key example of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-montrezl-harrell-and-potential-sixth-man-of-the-year-winners-20220907-0021.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sixth man</a>, and was able to convince coach <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/sports/25-highest-paid-coaches-in-american-sports-20211215-0031.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gregg Popovich</a> to think outside the box.
Manu, as he is known to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-the-hurtful-truth-the-san-antonio-spurs-accepted-to-let-dejounte-murray-move-to-atlanta-hawks-20220701-0034.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">San Antonio Spurs</a> fans, was an unpredictable basketball player, often resorting to wild shooting and taking big chances. Known for pulling a rabbit out the hat in his early NBA career, Manu was an example of the Argentine term “viveza” or sneaky thinking. What can one expect from an athlete from the land of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/diego-maradona-last-goal-ever-video-usa-greece-20201125-0012.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diego Maradona</a> and Lionel Messi?
Popovich and the Spurs learned to appreciate Ginóbili’s tactics and antics and let him shine on a team that had a host of NBA legends like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Before being formally inducted into the Hall of Fame we will review some of Manu Ginóbili’s career highlights.
<h2>Manu Ginóbili achievements</h2>
One of the most decorated players to play in the NBA, Ginóbili played in Argentina and Italy before making his way to the NBA in 2002. The rest is history as in the NBA, Manu won 4 NBA titles in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014 all with the Spurs. He was a 2-time NBA All- Star, NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2008), and had his No. 20 retired by the San Antonio Spurs.
His complete NBA stats are Points 14,043 (13.3 ppg), Rebounds 3,697 (3.5 rpg), and Assists 4,001 (3.8 apg) in over 1000 games for the Spurs.

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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="412" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:412" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220909_BUS_199738_emanuel_ginobili_x20_and_tony_parker_x9_of_the_san_antonio_spurs_kiss_the_championship_trophy_after_crop1662727207356.jpg_22069893_42f63267.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=412" width="740" height="412"></figure><figcaption> Emanuel Ginobili #20 and Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs kiss the Championship trophy (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) </figcaption></figure>
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Internationally at the club level, Manu Ginóbili was a EuroLeague champion, EuroLeague Finals MVP, 2-time EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer, 2-time Italian Cup winner, 2-time Italian League MVP, Italian Cup MVP, and Italian League steals leader with Italian side Virtus Bologna.
With the Argentine national team Ginóbili is by far the greatest Argentine basketball player of all time having his number retired by the national team. The golden generation of Argentine basketball players would win one gold and bronze medal in two Olympic games. A silver medal in the FIBA World Cup in 2002 and he retired from the national team at the Olympic games in Rio in 2016.

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NBA Hall of Fame | Manu Ginóbili achievements

NBA Hall of Fame | Manu Ginóbili achievements - Bolavip US

It’s only been a couple of hours since the news of <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/diego-maradona-t312" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diego Maradona’s </a>sudden passing flooded the internet. Even so, there have already been countless tributes and homages paid to one of the greatest to ever do it.
Needless to say, that includes his friend and compatriot Manu Ginóbili, considered by most as the second-greatest Argentinean athlete in the history of the country, trailing only, the aforementioned Maradona.
The 4-time <a href="https://us.bolavip.com/nba-t19117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> Champion penned a message to his friend and icon on social media, as well asa picture of a young and smiling Diego Maradona, expressing just how sad he was for his passing:
<h2>Manu Ginobili Mourns Diego Maradona’s Death</h2>

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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Muy triste! Gracias Diego por tan lindos momentos! Abrazo enorme para toda su familia y para un pueblo que lo amó profundamente. <a href="https://t.co/QC0s8xbzHR">pic.twitter.com/QC0s8xbzHR</a>
 — Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) <a href="https://twitter.com/manuginobili/status/1331648455459135492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a> </blockquote></div>
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“(I’m) very sad! Thanks Diego for all the great memories! A big hug to all your family and to a country that loved him deeply,” the<a href="https://us.bolavip.com/san-antonio-spurs-t100707" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> San Antonio Spurs </a>legend wrote in a heartfelt post on his Twitter account.
 
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We can expect many more tributes to come from all over the world as the sports community will continue to mourn the death of one of the most controversial, famous, and skilled people to ever set foot on the face of the earth.

Manu Ginóbili mourns the passing of Diego Maradona

Manu Ginóbili mourns the passing of Diego Maradona - Bolavip US

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