Manu Ginóbili's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Manu Ginóbili.

Manu Ginóbili is a retired Argentine professional basketball player widely considered one of the greatest shooting guards and sixth men in NBA history. He popularized the Euro step in the NBA. Ginóbili led Argentina to an Olympic gold medal in 2004, earning MVP honors and marking the only time a US NBA team was eliminated in the competition. He's one of two players to win a EuroLeague title, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal. A four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, he formed the renowned "Big Three" with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. He is also considered one of the greatest draft steals in NBA history, along with Nikola Jokić. Currently, he serves as a special advisor to basketball operations for the Spurs.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1999: Promotion to Italian 1st Division

In 1999, Ginóbili, teamed with Brent Scott, Brian Oliver and Sydney Johnson to earn promotion from the Italian 2nd Division to the Italian 1st Division.

2000: Italian League MVP

In 2000, Ginóbili was named the Italian League MVP.

2001: Italian League Championship

In 2001, Ginóbili helped Kinder Bologna win the Italian League Championship and was named the EuroLeague's Finals MVP.

2002: Italian Cup Win

In 2002, Ginóbili helped Kinder Bologna win the Italian Cup.

2002: Won Silver Medal at FIBA World Championship

In 2002, Ginóbili played at the FIBA World Championship, where he won a silver medal with the Argentinian national team.

2002: FIBA World Championship

In 2002, while playing with the Argentina national team at the FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis, Ginóbili made the All-Tournament Team and helped lead Argentina to a second-place finish.

2002: Reference to Michael Jordan's record

In January 2018, Ginóbili became the first player in his 40s to score 15-plus points in back-to-back games since Michael Jordan in 2002-03.

2004: Led Argentina to Olympic Gold

In 2004, Ginóbili led Argentina to a gold medal at the Athens Summer Olympics, becoming the first team other than Team USA to win in 16 years. He hit a game-winning buzzer beater against Serbia and Montenegro, leading the team in scoring (19.3 points per game) and assists (3.3 assists per game).

2004: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2004, Manu Ginóbili led Argentina to a gold medal-winning performance at the FIBA Olympics in Athens and won the MVP award. His team also achieved the only elimination of a US NBA team in the history of this competition.

2005: NBA All-Star

In 2005, Ginóbili was named an NBA All-Star.

2005: NBA Championship and All-Star Selection

In 2005, Manu Ginóbili played a pivotal role in winning San Antonio's third NBA championship. He was also selected as a reserve for the 2005 Western Conference All-Star team, marking his debut in the elite showcase. He also won an Olimpias de Oro, sharing the award with soccer star Carlos Tevez.

2007: Ranked as sixth-best international player in the NBA

In 2007, ESPN sportswriter John Hollinger ranked Ginóbili as the sixth-best international player then active in the NBA, calling him "one of the great draft heists of all time" and recognizing his influence on the trend of drafting European players.

2007: NBA Sixth Man of the Year

In 2007, Manu Ginóbili was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

2007: NBA Championship Win

In the 2007 NBA Playoffs, Ginóbili helped the Spurs defeat the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz, leading to the team sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ginobili's third and San Antonio's fourth championship.

February 2008: Record-Breaking Performance

On February 11, 2008, Ginóbili scored 34 points and recorded 15 rebounds in a win over the Toronto Raptors, becoming the first guard in Spurs' history to have at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in a game.

April 2008: Sixth Man Award and All-NBA Third Team

On April 21, 2008, Ginóbili was awarded the 2008 Sixth Man Award. A couple of weeks later, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

2008: Flag Bearer and Olympic Bronze Medalist

In 2008, Ginóbili was the flag bearer for Argentina at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Olympics. The basketball team won the bronze medal, although Ginóbili missed the bronze medal game due to injury.

2010: Key Player and NBA MVP Ballot

In 2010-11, Ginobili was regarded as the key player on his team, and he finished eighth on the NBA MVP ballot following the season.

2011: NBA All-Star Selection

In 2011, Manu Ginóbili was selected as an All-Star.

2017: Key Playoff Performances

In 2017, during Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets, Ginóbili blocked James Harden's shot to secure a 110–107 victory for San Antonio. In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, he became the first player aged 39 or older to score 20 or more points off the bench in a playoff game since the NBA began recording starts in the 1970-71 NBA season.

January 2018: NBA History Maker at Age 40+

In January 2018, Ginóbili became the only player in NBA history to have multiple 20-point games off the bench at age 40 or older. He also became the first player in his 40s to score 15-plus points in back-to-back games since Michael Jordan in 2002-03.

March 2019: Spurs retired Ginóbili's No. 20 jersey

On March 28, 2019, the Spurs retired Ginóbili's No. 20 jersey, a testament to his contributions to the team.

April 2022: Hall of Fame Induction

In April 2022, Manu Ginóbili was announced as a first-ballot inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

September 2022: Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

On September 10, 2022, Ginóbili was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of the greats. He is one of only four Spurs players to have played exclusively for San Antonio for their entire NBA career to be inducted.