When Spurs made the decision to sign Argentina’s Manu Ginobili, in the 1999 draft, was unaware that he had made one of the biggest decisions that would forever change the history of the team . Although it took Ginobili until 2002-03 after several injuries to adjust to the way things are at Spurs and the NBA, when he adjusted to it he became the one of the greatest players in Spurs history.
It is on the record that Manu has the best plus-minus per 100 possessions by anyone who has played at least 20,000 minutes since 2000. It is also on the records that he is the other player, Bill Bradley, who will win a European title, an NBA title and an Olympic gold medal.
This is the story of the man many consider the Michael Jordan of Argentina.
the biography
His full name is Emmanuel David Manu Ginobili and he was born on June 28, 1977 in Bahia. He is the youngest of three children of his parents – Jorge and Raquel Ginobili. His family is the one that produced professional basketball players, you wouldn’t be wrong to say that the game runs in blood, starting with his father.
Manu’s father was a well-known basketball coach. He managed a club in Bahia Blanca. Sebastian and Leandro, two brothers of Ginobili, were basketball players: Sebastian played in Spain’s second-tier Liga Espanola de Baloncesto and in the local Argentinian League. His brother Leandro played for seven years in the Argentine Basketball League and retired in 2003.
Career
So Ginobili grew up loving the game of basketball, but then who in his position wouldn’t? See the whole family is in love with the game? Manu cited the popular and successful American basketball player in the 1980s and 90s, Michael Jordan, as his major football influence.
He started playing professionally with La Rioja deAndino Sports Club, he was with the club from 1995 to 1996. He was then transferred to Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca, where he remained until 1998. He then left for the Italy where he joined Italian basketball team Basket Viola Reggio Calabria where he was later promoted to 1.st Division in 1999.
Luckily for him, the San Antonio Spurs picked him in the 1999 NBA draft as the 57th overall pick in the second round, however, he officially joined the Spurs basketball team in the 2002/2003 season. of the NBA, but was unable to adapt quickly to the NBA system of play, as he continued to come in and out of the game following several injuries.
Manu Ginobili has quickly become a man to watch in the Spurs team as he has always kept the team on the peak of success winning most of their matches. It has also attracted so many accolades almost every season. One such award was Argentina’s Sportsman of the Year titled Olimpia de Oro, which is called ‘Golden Olympia’ – this award brought him past Argentina’s President, Nestor Kirchner, a gymnastics center was also dedicated to Ginobili in his birthplace, Bahia Blanca.
In NBA history, Ginobili is acclaimed to be the only basketball player to have 20 games off the bench and other than Michael Jordan, he is considered the only basketball player to have scored 15 points and more in back-to-back matches. He has spent most of his career with the Spurs basketball team, which renews his contract with the team every season. The last renewal took place on August 24, 2017.
Ginobili as a member of the senior Argentina national basketball team made his debut in Athens at the 1998 Fiba World Championship and also won a silver medal at the 2002 Fiba World Championship. He was Argentina’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He also played with his Argentina team at the 2012 London Summer Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.
Other accolades he has attracted included; 2002 Coppa Italia Best Player, Argentina’s Most Important Sportsman of the Decade titled Diamond Konex Award 2010, Twice Italian League MVP in 2001 and 2002, EuroLeague Final Best Player in 2001, FIBA AmeriCup also in 2001, two-time NBA All-Star in 2005 and 2011.
He also won the following titles; Triple Crown Winner in 2001, Italian League champion in 2001, twice Italian Cup winner in 2001 and 2002, and many more.
Manu speaks several languages and is fluent in English, Italian and Spanish. He likes Latin music, traveling and watching movies. He has dual Argentinian and Italian nationality.
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Net value
Ginobili’s net worth is estimated at $45 million and his salary has been valued at $14 million per year.
Manu Ginobili’s Family – Wife and Children
Manu is married to a beautiful Argentinian woman named Marianela Orono. They have been married since 2004. They reportedly met in 1997, when Ginobili was still playing in Argentina.
The couple have three children: twins Dante and Nicola, whom they welcomed in May 2010, and Luca, who arrived four years later in April 2014. The family lives in San Francisco.
The couple are so happy together and have been the victim of scandals and divorce rumors in their marriage of more than ten years.
In an interview, Ginobili revealed that his wife was supportive and was the mastermind behind his long career at Spurs. “She has always been very helpful and has extended my career.”
Together they started the Manu Ginobili Foundation in 2006. The foundation is Manu’s way of giving back to society and aims to help the children of Argentine children.
the size
The outstanding footballer is 1.98m (6ft 6in) tall and weighs 93kg (205lbs).
