This weekend, 13 legends will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
And while there is no shortage of star power, one player stands out from the crowd: Manu Ginobili.
The No. 57 pick of the 1999 NBA Draft, Ginobili is one of the greatest international players to ever step foot on an NBA court. He finished his career with a pair of All-Star and All-NBA selections, one Sixth Man of the Year award and four championships.
Ginobili played a key role in San Antonio's incredible two-decade dominance, forming one of the winningest trios in NBA history alongside Hall of Famer Tim Duncan and potential future Hall of Famer Tony Parker.
In honor of arguably the greatest sixth man of all time being inducted into the Hall of Fame, members of our TSN staff share how they'll remember Ginobili's career in six words or less.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles): Manu Ginobili was the ultimate winner.
We're talking about a two-time All-Star and two-time member of the All-NBA team who was more than happy coming off the bench. He played his role to perfection. Everyone knows about his iconic Eurostep, but Ginobili was a knockdown shooter and elite passer. The combination gave him the ability to not only play but thrive next to anyone.
The results speak for themselves. Beyond the four championships, the Spurs won 72.1 percent of the games Ginobili appeared in. That ranks 10th all-time. The catch? None of the players ahead of him played as many games as he did (1,051).
Oh, and only seven players have more playoff wins than Ginobili. He was big time.
At the end of the day, Ginobili is someone every team in the league would've wanted on their team. His resume might not scream star, but he absolutely was one.
The icing on the cake: Ginobili was fun as hell to watch. I never thought those Spurs teams were boring, but there's no denying that he brought a much-welcomed flair, one herky-jerky layup and southpaw triple at a time.
Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21): Manu Ginobili was a fearless competitor.
When I think back to my most vivid memories of Ginobili's career, I'm reminded that no moment was too big and no stakes were too high for him.
After all, you don't play a key role in four title wins without being fearless.
Ginobili won at every level — in addition to his four titles with the Spurs, he led Virtus Bologna to a EuroLeague title in 2001 and, in one of the biggest moments in the history of the game, led Argentina to Olympic gold at the 2004 games in Athens.
In an era that featured a number of all-time greats at the two guard position, Ginobili went toe-to-toe with each of them on the biggest stages. From Kobe Bryant to Dwyane Wade, many expressed the utmost respect for who Ginobili is as a player and a competitor.
Ginobili's fearlessness instilled fear in opposing fans like myself, as I was gutted when he almost single-handedly flipped the script on my New Orleans Hornets in the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals.
Ginobili, the Sixth Man of the Year for the 2007-08 season, was inserted into the starting lineup after the Spurs dropped the first two games of the series. As a starter, Ginobili averaged 23.4 points for the rest of the series, including 31 points in Game 3 and 26 points in the decisive Game 7.
In the span of 11 days, Ginobili displayed his selflessness and the fearlessness of his competitive nature, which is why he'll soon be immortalized in Springfield, Mass.
Kyle Irving (@KyleIrv_): Manu Ginobili made the Eurostep famous.
When I was asked what I'll most remember the Hall of Famer for, the first thing that came to mind was the Eurostep.
Sure, other players may have utilized the move before him, but Ginobili was the player who made the Eurostep one of the most effective moves in the NBA today.
His sneaky explosive first step and body control to stop on a dime and change his pace just added to the slick craftiness of his game. I vividly remember watching Ginobili's Nike Hoops Eurostep tutorial on YouTube when I was a kid, then going out in the driveway and practicing it to try and add it to my own game.
Scott and Gil already hit the nail on the head in talking about Ginobili's competitive edge and winning ways, but his signature Eurostep just might be his lasting legacy on modern-day hoops.
Benyam Kidane (@BenyamKidane): Teamwork makes the dream work.
Has there been a more selfless superstar in recent memory?
Ginobili, a two-time All-Star, could have easily started for 29 other teams in the league, but his willingness to not only accept a role off the bench but thrive in it proved to be a key ingredient in what made those Spurs teams so special and successful.
Ginobili came off the bench for 708 of his 1,057 regular-season appearances, giving the Spurs squad a balanced offensive rotation and tearing up defenses when Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were out of the game. But in the biggest moments, Ginobili was right there down the stretch to deliver a clutch bucket, block, charge or whatever else the team needed.
That's what Ginobili was about ... winning.
In the wise words of Juice WRLD: "In the fourth quarter ballin like Kobe...I’m super clutch just like Ginobili"
Micah Adams (@micahadams13): Most under-appreciated star of his generation.
Yes, he's now a Hall of Famer.
Yes, he's arguably the greatest sixth man of all time.
And yet, I'm still not sure NBA fans truly appreciate Ginobili's game.
Due to his legendary unselfishness, reduced role (and sacrifice) with San Antonio and Gregg Popovich's slower style, Ginobili's individual accolades on paper don't stand out. 20 years from now fans will gloss across his career, see two All-Star appearances and a career scoring average of 13.3 points per game and perhaps wonder what gives.
To fully appreciate Ginobili's star stature — and yes, he was a STAR — requires digging deeper.
During his seven-year prime, bookended by his two All-Star selections in 2004-05 and 2010-11, just once did the Spurs finish inside the top 20 in pace. Over that same period, Ginobili averaged over 30 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per 100 possessions. The only other players to reach those thresholds over that span? LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Tracy McGrady.
When people talk about Ginobili's legacy, the conversation needs to extend beyond greatest international players and greatest sixth men. On the hardwood, Ginobili was one of his generation's greatest players, period.
As the Spurs legend Eurosteps into Springfield, we'd all be wise to fully appreciate a truly Hall of Fame game.
