Where can I find a player like Ginobili?

Welcome back to the Shisan Arena.

In the 2002-2003 season, 25-year-old Ginobili finally entered the NBA after being selected by the Spurs for three years.

Rookies averaged 7.6 points, 2 assists and 1.4 steals per game per year, with a shooting percentage of 43.8% + 34.5% + 73.7%; they have spiritual energy, but they are not too amazing.

But in the last minute of G3 in the finals that year, he stopped the Nets with a mid-range shot, and blocked Kidd's 3-pointer to take away the game - big heart, big scene.

In the second year, he began to start, averaging 12.8 points, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 41.8% + 35.9% + 80.2%;

Then that year, he led Argentina to end the 58-game winning streak of the US men's basketball team and won the Olympic gold medal. In the third grade, he started in all regular season games, averaging 16 points, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and his shooting percentage was 47.1% + 37.6% + 80.3%.

But in the first round of the playoffs, he scored 23 points and 5 assists. After the team lost to the Nuggets, Popovich withdrew him to the bench and then turned four consecutive games.

Popovich said that he beat too fiercely and his physical fitness would be exhausted soon; so he returned to the bench and completely destroyed his opponent with rhythm.

The so-called rhythm probably means that Ginobili has the ability to hold and organize the ball that is not inferior to Parker, and his on-the-spot judgment and reaction are even better - and when the Spurs have Duncan and Parker in the starting lineup, Ginobili's main attacker price will be compressed.

And when he appears in the connection section, it is almost a dimensionality reduction blow to all opponents.

So after winning the championship in 2005, Ginobili played more and more substitutes - for many players, it may not be acceptable.

But he enjoyed it very much. When Popovich told him in 2007 that the team might need him to play more on the bench, he replied: I can't wait.

So the Spurs won a 13-game winning streak and won the third championship in the first five years of his career.

By 2008, he was elected the sixth man, averaging 19.5 points, 4.8 Rambo, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals, with a shooting percentage of 46% + 40.1% + 86%, squeezing into the top ten of the MVP list that year - this is the best place player on the MVP list.

Parker said: Many times, Manu is our first offensive choice.

is not an exaggeration - Duncan averaged 19.3 points and Parker averaged 18.8 points that year.

It makes sense to look at Parker in good times, Duncan in bad times, and Manu in desperate times.

Even though his hair gradually became thinner and older, he could still draw his sword on the playoff stage - G5 in the second round of the 2017 playoffs, 39-year-old Ginobili ruthlessly blocked Harden's three-pointer at the last moment of overtime, killing the Rockets' hope of turning the tables.

At that moment, Kidd was probably the one who empathized with Harden the most.

As Popovich said, Ginobili's style of play is quite radical and his physical energy consumption is extremely high.

So it is difficult for him to remain efficient for a long time. As a substitute, it is not only for the team to consider it, but also for the continuation of his career.

The so-called 20 minutes Jordan is not only a joke about his physical fitness, but also reflects how important it is to the team when he is full of physical fitness. When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022, he said to Popovich: What other words can I say to thank you? I'm already exhausted. I've cried in your arms countless times over the years, and my words cannot express my feelings for you.

To Duncan and Parker: The three of us have been together for a full 16 years, which is one of the best experiences in my life.

There will no longer be players like Ginobili;

There will no longer be mentors or partners like Popovich and GDP.