Emanuel David Ginobili Maccari, better known as Manu Ginobili, is a former Argentine professional basketball player. Further, the player is one of the top players that the league has ever seen and is remembered for his legacy.
Throughout his 23-year professional career, he became one of only two players (along with Bill Bradley) to win a EuroLeague championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal.
In addition, the player is frequently credited with popularizing and introducing the popular Euro step move to the NBA.
Want to know more about Manu Ginobili and his legacy? If so, stick with us to the end of the article!
Before that, look at the quick facts about the legendary basketball player.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Emanuel David Ginóbili Maccari |
| Birth Date | July 28, 1977 |
| Birth Place | Bahía Blanca, Argentina |
| Nick Name | El Contusion, Demon Blade, Gino, etc. |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | Argentine, Italian |
| Playing Career | 1999-2018 |
| Zodiac | Leo |
| Chinese Zodiac | Snake |
| Father’s Name | Jorge Ginobili |
| Mother’s Name | Raquel Ginobili |
| Siblings | Leandro Ginobili, Sebastian Genobili |
| Age | 46 years old |
| Height | 6 feet 6 inches |
| Weight | 93 kg |
| Chest size | 42 inches |
| Biceps size | 14 inches |
| Waist size | 33 inches |
| NBA Draft | Round: 2, Pick: 57th overall, 1999 (Selected by the San Antonio Spurs) |
| Shoots | Left |
| Tattoos | None |
| Food Habits | Non-veg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Career Highlights |
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| Build | Athletic |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Marianela Ginobili |
| Children | Three |
| Jersey Number | 20, 10, 6, 5 |
| Retired in | 2018 |
| Currently working as | Special Advisor |
| League | NBA |
| Net Worth | $45 Million |
| Annual Salary | Not available |
| Social Media | |
| Merch | Trading Card, Paperback, Poster |
| Last Update | April, 2024 |
Early Life and Family
Manu Ginobili was born on 28 July, 1977 in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. His father’s name is Jorge Ginobili, and his mother’s name is Raquel Ginobili.
Manu comes from a basketball-playing family. For instance, his older brother, Leandro Ginoboli, retired in 2003 after seven years in the Argentine basketball league.
Likewise, his younger brother, Sebastián Ginobili, played in the Argentine local league and the Spanish Liga Espaola de Baloncesto.
Manu learned to play the game while his father, Jorge Ginobili, was a coach at a club in Baha Blanca, Argentina.
The player’s passion for basketball overgrew due to the proliferation of basketball clubs in Bahia Blanca and his idolization of Michael Jordan.
Manu Ginobili: Age, Body Measurements & More
The basketball player, Manu Ginobili, was born in the year 1977. Hence, he is 46 years old.
Similarly, his zodiac sign is Leo, and he was born in the Snake year according to the Chinese calendar.
Manu stood 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) tall, weighed 205 lb (93 kg), and played left-handed. He has a chest size of 42 inches. Likewise, his biceps measure 14 inches, and his waist measures 33 inches.
He was recognized as one of the most incredible sixth men in NBA history after establishing himself as a star shooting guard.
Ginobili was a late bloomer, entering the NBA at the age of 25 during a time when entering the NBA as a teenager was common. He was regarded as a versatile and reliable backcourt player.
Hobbies
Ginóbili enjoys listening to Latin music, watching movies, and traveling in his spare time. Manu holds dual citizenship in Argentina and Italy due to his Marchesan ancestry.
In addition to his native Spanish, the player is fluent in Italian and English. As a result, Manu developed the habit of answering media questions in the language posed by the question.
The player also likes cycling, traveling, and spending time with his friends and family.
Manu Ginobili | Professional Basketball Career
Manu began his professional career with La Roja in the Argentine Basketball League in 1995.
He was traded to the Argentine League’s Estudiantes Bahia Blanca the following year. He signed with Basket Viola Reggio Calabria in Italy for the 1998-99 season.
Manu and his teammates helped the Reggio’s move up to the first division from the second division in Italy. Further, the San Antonio Spurs signed Manu to a $2.9 million contract. For the 2004-2005 season, he returned to the Spurs.
The Spurs won the championships in 2004 and 2005. He led the Spurs to another title in 2007 and again in 2014.
The player continued playing with the Spurs. He became the only player in NBA history to have multiple 20-point games off the bench at 40 or older in January 2018.
Manu was also the first player in his 40s to score 15 or more points in consecutive games since Michael Jordan in 2002–03.
Retirement
Manu announced his retirement from professional basketball on August 27, 2018.
This made him the second player that season to complete a career with one team, following Nick Collison of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Spurs retired Manu’s No. 20 jersey on March 28, 2019, right next to Tim Duncan’s No. 21 jersey.
Did Manu Ginobili play for the National Team?
Manu was a key member of Argentina’s highly successful national basketball team, known as the Golden Generation.
The player was also a member of Argentina’s junior national team at the 1997 FIBA Under-21 World Championship, where they finished fourth.
Ginobili also played for Argentina’s senior national team, making his senior debut at Athens’s 1998 FIBA World Championship. Likewise, the player also competed in the 2002 FIBA World Championship, winning a silver medal.
Manu’s most outstanding achievement as a national team member came in 2004 when Argentina became the first team other than Team USA to win the gold medal in 16 years.
The player represented Argentina in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, where his team finished fourth. Manu carried Argentina’s flag during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Manu’s Argentina won the bronze medal game at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics basketball tournament, even though the shooting guard did not play due to an injury sustained in the tournament’s semifinals.
Ginobili announced in April 2010 that he would not compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship due to family obligations.
He did, however, compete for Argentina in the 2012 London Summer Olympics, where Argentina narrowly missed out on the bronze medal game against Russia.
Manu Ginobili | Advocacy
Manu expressed his support for same-sex marriage legalization in Argentina in 2010.
The player also added that while he supported same-sex marriage, he did not consider himself qualified enough to speak about same-sex adoption.
Ginobili stated that he would prefer to see a child raised by two men or two women rather than an orphanage.
The player also expressed support for gay basketball players in March 2020 and expressed hope that the issue of sexual orientation will be resolved soon.
Awards
- 4× NBA champion (20014, 2007, 2005, 20401
- 2× NBA All-Star (20011, 2005)
- 2× All-NBA Third Team (20011, 2008)
- 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
- 2003 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- Argentina’s No. 5 retired by the CABB
- No. 20 retired by San Antonio Spurs
- 2001 EuroLeague champion
- 2001 EuroLeague Finals MVP
- 2× EuroLeague Finals Top Scorer (2002, 2001)
- 2002 All-EuroLeague First Team
- 2001 Italian League champion
- 2× Italian Cup winner (2002, 2001)
- 2× Italian League MVP (2002, 2001)
- 2002 Italian Cup MVP
- 2002 Italian League steals leader
- 3× Italian League All-Star (2001, 2000, 1999)
- 2001 Italian League All-Star Game Dunk Contest Champion
- 2× Olimpia de Oro (2004, 2003)
- 2010 Diamond Konex Award
- 2008 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors
- 2001 FIBA AmeriCup MVP
- 2004 Summer Olympics Basketball Tournament MVP
Manu Ginobili | Nickname
The former NBA player has earned some of the coolest nicknames ever in the NBA history. The player is often referred to as the ‘Demon Blade.’
Moreover, the player earned this moniker for his ability to slash to the basket using tricky footwork such as the Eurostep.
Likewise, Manu’s threshold is off the charts, which earned him the nickname ‘El Contusion.’ The player played through broken bones, bruises, fractures, and contusions.
Moreover, he even played with severe testicle damage in 2016, earning the respect of anyone who has ever played a sport.
The player also has the nicknames, The Magician, Gino, Madudona, etc.
Manu Ginobili | Marital Life
Manu met Marianela while playing for his hometown team in 1997. A mutual friend introduced them. Manu fell head over heels for the stunning Argentine beau Marianela Orono.
Their love blossomed into a romantic relationship over time. The Argentine couple dated for nearly six years before marrying on July 11, 2004.
The couple welcomed their twin boys, Dante Ginobili and Nicola Ginobili, on May 16, 2010. Likewise, their third child, Luca Ginobili, was born on April 21, 2014.
Manu Ginobili: Facts and Trivia
A bat descended onto the basketball court at the AT&T Center on October 31, 2009, during a game against the Sacramento Kings, causing play to be halted.
Manu swatted the bat to the ground with his hand as it flew by. He then carried the creature off the court, to the audience’s delight.
Similarly, Manu preferred to drive to the left. Despite opponents’ attempts to force him right, he had an uncanny ability to score on the left throughout his career.
Manu has also founded “The Manu Ginobili Foundation” along with his wife. The foundation has helped countless children and adults in Argentina with housing, food, and recreational activities.
Manu’s 2005–06 season was marred by injuries to his feet and ankles, limiting his playability. He played in 65 games during the regular season, but his significant statistics were down from the previous year.
During the playoffs, he returned to form but could not prevent the Spurs from being eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks.
Manu Ginobili | Social Media
- Instagram: @manuginobili
- Twitter: @manuginobili
- YouTube: Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobilim | Net Worth
Manu Ginobili was a 16-year NBA veteran. During his time in the NBA, he only played for the San Antonio Spurs. The player has a net worth of $45 Million.
In the 2018/19 season, the player earned a yearly salary of $2,695,514. Likewise, Manu earned $2,772,917 in the 2017/18 season. Additionally, Manu also won many awards at the international level.
Throughout his playing career in the NBA, Manu amassed a total sum of $160,381,542. Apart from that, the player also made money through endorsement and sponsorship deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Manu Ginobili’s agent?
The basketball player, Manu Ginobili’s agent, was Herb Rudoy of Interperformances.
What was Ginobili’s last international game?
Manu Ginobili played his final international games at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where Argentina finished eighth.
