Farewell to Manu

I will always remember Charles Barkely shouting "MANU GIN-O-BIL-I."

You've probably already read or heard the stats. A career winning percentage of .721 (762-295), the best career winning percentage in NBA history among players with over 1,000 career games. Spurs all-time leader in 3-pointers made (1,495) and steals (1,392). Four NBA Championships, 218 Playoff Games. Ginobili and LeBron James are the only NBA players to score 3,000 points and make 300 three-pointers in the playoffs. All-time leader in bench points (2,014), assists (576), rebounds (635), steals (205), field goals (630), 3-pointers (226) and free throws (528). Combined with Tony Parker, has the most recorded wins (132) by a duo in postseason history. Along with Tim Duncan and Parker, won 575 games, the most by a trio in NBA history.

I will always remember the "Euro-step."

The first South American to earn All-NBA honors and the first South American to play in 1,000 games for a single NBA team. Ginobili and Bill Bradley are the only players in basketball history to win a EuroLeague title, NBA Championship, and an Olympic gold medal.

I will always remember Pop saying, "It's just Manu being Manu."

Manu was just an unknown foreign player (at least in the USA) when he was drafted 57th overall in 1999. He didn't even jump over to the NBA until 2002. Fittingly, Manu's 1st ever points in the NBA came from a 3-pointer. 16 years later we have come to an end of an era, Ginobili being the last of the Big 3 to leave the Spurs. If it wasn't for the uniforms I wouldn't be able to recognize this Spurs team when it takes the court next season.

All the major sports outlets and shows are paying tribute to the Argentine, but my favorite comes from the Official Site of the San Antonio Spurs where they've posted several videos featuring the future Hall-of-Famer.