Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce's podcast has been awesome for the NBA community because they're one of the few platforms that speak highly of players of the current and older generation, and they do it in a hilarious way. Recently, Manu Ginobili was the recipient of the praise shower the duo rained in a clip making its way around social media.
No lies were told in the video above. Long-haired Ginobili was an absolute menace. His unpredictable style of play, paired with his size, skill, and quickness, made him a problem for opposing teams to deal with. He's viewed as one of the most unselfish players in the history of the sport because everyone knows he was a starter masquerading as a bench player for most of his career.
Ginobili could have been a number one on a contender
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I don't really know how anyone could look at what he did in leading that Argentina team to a gold medal, defeating Team USA in the process, and [doubt that he could have led a team](https://airalamo.com/spurs-fans-lose-minds-after-ultimate-manu-ginobili-disrespect) in the NBA at a high level. This was one of the most skilled players in the league, and he was as clutch as anyone playing in his era.
During Manu's prime, which I'd say started in his third season at 27 years old and lasted until he was 33, he averaged 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, and he shot 37% from three. That was from 2004-2010.
The sneaky left-hander could have averaged 24-25 points per game as a starter during that era, easy. His sacrifice [helped the Spurs win several titles,](https://airalamo.com/false-revisionist-history-erase-manu-ginobili-goat-sixth-man-status) and he's legendary because of it. Manu played on both sides of the floor and did so with the same flair he did on offense. Whether it was a steal he snatched by coming across the floor or blocking Kevin Durant at the peak of a fast-break dunk, he was a dynamo.
Ginobili received MVP votes on three separate occasions. One of those was in a year when Coach Pop started him the majority of the season in 2011. He was top ten in MVP voting, an all-star, and made the All-NBA Third Team. That was at 33 years old.
The Argentinian firecracker is beloved because everyone knows that had he been selfish, he could have thrived elsewhere. He was a true hooper with a competitive fire that burned from the moment he stepped on the court to the end of the competition. Manu left everything on the court, and he's one of the greatest to lace up a pair of sneakers. Don't let anyone tell you different.