Former San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginóbili has been selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, according to the South Texas NBA franchise and San Antonio CBS affiliate KENS. The Argentina-born Ginóbili played for the Spurs from 2002 to 2018.
“It’s official! Welcome to the Hall of Fame, @manuginobili,” the Spurs tweeted.
The 44-year-old Ginóbili was part of the Spurs’ “big three” that also consisted of point guard Tony Parker and forward/center Tim Duncan.
Together with head coach Gregg Popovich, they guided San Antonio to championships in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.
Ginóbili, Parker and Duncan won more games than any other trio in the history of the NBA, according to KENS.
Ginóbili, whom San Antonio selected with the penultimate pick of the 1999 NBA Draft, has his No. 20 hanging from the rafters at AT&T Center.
The Spurs special advisor told KENS that it was seemingly a requirement in his family to pick up a basketball.
"We were all by the club, and we all played, and we all loved it, and we talked about it and we just carry on," he said, according to the station. "That passion, that drive to build up, one thing brings to the other one, and now when I thought there were not going to be more surprises after my career was done, you get recognition like this which makes you go back a little bit in time and relive your story, and it's incredible."
Ginóbili is part of the 13-strong 2022 Hall of Fame (HOF) class that also counts five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway; ex-head coach George Karl, who ranks sixth in terms of most career games won; and four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Swin Cash as members, according to a press release from the NBA.
“The Class of 2022 is ripe with individuals who have had a significant historical impact on the game we love," HOF president and CEO John L. Doleva said in the release. "We congratulate and thank them for everything they’ve done to better the sport and look forward to honoring them during Enshrinement this fall.”