Saturday, April 2, 2022 will be marked among the most relevant dates in Bahian sports, because Emanuel Ginóbili’s entry into the Hall of Fame was made official.
“I feel very flattered. It is a very nice recognition. Although one never trains, plays or competes in search of individual awards, and the favorites and the most significant are always group, four years after retirement, to be recognized in this way for your contribution to the sport, both at the FIBA and NBA, that’s an incredible compliment. Although this is never a priority, this is very well received and I am very happy to be part of this huge tribute to the best basketball players in history. It even sounds strange to me to say it, but being there in the Hall of Fame is totally unexpected, but wonderful”, admitted Manu.
The kid who grew up here in Bahia
Emanuel made reference to the three “photos” chosen from his career.
“The three photos of my career are of group moments. I still believe that it was the best thing in my career not to be part of teams that marked an era, both in FIBA and the NBA. So, if I had to think of three photos, one would be the podium in Athens, another would be an emotional hug in 2014, that moment was very important in my career, first because in 2013 I thought that there would possibly be no other possibilities of celebrating in the NBA , and then because he pulled out a very large thorn. And in 2005, also out there celebrating that championship, which was a before and after in my NBA career”, he argued.
Your reaction to the news
The second ring, of the four he got with the Spurs, was a hinge in his career as he himself acknowledged.
“At the FIBA level I already had a certain badge, we had already won gold and I had already traveled, but there was a before and after for me after that championship, and many things changed, both at the perception and possession level of the NBA and mine. . Confidence, leadership, to really feel a part of that Big Three,” he noted.
A custom made orange suit
“It ends up being a very nice story, of someone who comes here to paddle it, with a lot of dreams and uncertainty and 16 years later he ends up retiring and they remove his shirt or this happens to him. Very happy with the path traveled and feel that I did things well”, he highlighted.
Moment of debut with the Spurs.
He also referred to the path traveled and the unexpected place he came to occupy.
“There shouldn’t be a player who starts playing basketball thinking about making it to the Hall of Fame. You start because he’s fun, he makes friends, he’s healthy, because he wants to do something else, and one thing leads to another. The same thing happens when you jump to the National Team, or Europe, or the NBA, you always have the hunger to make your teammates better, to be better, to achieve collective things with your team, to be able to celebrate something important with your teammates. If you care a lot about what he does, as in my case, he was passionate, you always want to do it better. And if you want to do better and you want to have the opportunity and you are looking for a way to adapt to your team, that the team needs you and also depends on you, see how to help make the team better, if you go with that mentality it is easier find a place, be appreciated and you’re going to have a prolific career, you’re going to make good relationships and do things properly, for the common good, not just for individual recognition,” he said.
Congrats on being named a #22HoopClass honoree, @manuginobili!@Hoophall | #PorVida pic.twitter.com/Z8Rg6mQyQz
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 2, 2022
