NBA: Manu Ginobili makes Hall Of Fame In First Year Of Eligibility
SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 1: Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 1, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
Manu Ginobili makes Hall of Fame on first-ballot
One of the most daring, creative playmakers in the history of basketball.
Congrats, @manuginobili! #22HoopClasspic.twitter.com/0ra1akiM85
— NBA (@NBA) April 2, 2022
This past week, we got to see those who will be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame announced, which includes Manu Ginobili. This list included some all-time greats, all of whom are definitely deserving of this enshrinement. This list would include 13 players/coaches to be enshrined, including the following:
- Manu Ginobili (NBA player)
- Tim Hardaway (NBA player)
- Bob Huggins (coach)
- George Karl (coach)
- Hugh Evans (referee)
- Lindsay Whalen (WNBA player)
- Swin Cash (WNBA player)
- Marianne Stanley (coach)
- Lou Hudson (Veterans Committee)
- Larry Costello (Contributor committee)
- Del Harris (Contributor committee)
- Theresa Shank-Grentz (Women’s Veterans committee)
- Radivoj Korac (international committee)
However, there is a very limited group of players who could start less than 1/3rd of their games and still make the Hall of Fame. Argentina’s flying man was an exception to this, as he was one of the most prolific 6th men in NBA history, and played his role at an exceptionally high level to where the Spurs essentially had 6 starters. Ginobili would start 349 of his career 1057 games (roughly 33%), however, he produced like a starter and did everything he could for the team to win, including sacrificing a starting role potentially elsewhere.
https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1510294728218189831?s=20&t=LHw0CM4mdi_0Ce3-WgiNmg
Why Manu made the Hall of Fame
The two parts of Ginobili’s game that were most renowned were his playmaking and his handles. Manu did not necessarily have the Kyrie Irving type of shiftiness, but more akin to that of a Rajon Rondo. Manu turned a stifling defense into swiss cheese with his high-level passing and got to the basket with ease nearly any time he tried. While his stats may not have been exceptional, they were consistent, and much of what he did was not shown on the stat sheets. Over his NBA career he accrued the following stats:
- 349 games started (1057 played)
- 13.3 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals
- .447 FG%, .369 3 point %, .840 FT%
Additionally, his first 3 seasons were played overseas, where he had the following stat line:
- 100 games played
- 18.0 PPG, 2.4 APG, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 steals
- .505 FG%, .378 3 point %, .715 FT%
On top of all this, he had some exceptional career accolades that pushed him even further into Hall of Fame contention.
Congratulations to 4x @NBA Champion, 2x @NBAAllStar and Olympic Gold Medalist #22HoopClass honoree @manuginobili. pic.twitter.com/AJxlHFH7Ah
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 2, 2022
Including the accolades above, he would create one of the longest lists of career achievements:
- 4x NBA Champion
- 2x NBA all-star
- 6th man of the year
- 2x NBA 3rd team
- Number retired by the Spurs
- 2x Italian cup winner, 1x Italian cup MVP, 2x Italian league MVP
- 3x Italian league all-star (every year of his career in that league)
- Summer Olympics Basketball Tournament MVP (2004)
Manu Ginobili was one of the most deserving players for first-ballot Hall of Fame contention this class. As of now? Ginobili will be enshrined forever in NBA history by Springfield, MA.
