Manu Ginobili's entry into the basketball hall of fame was not random. His legacy goes far beyond the gold medal at the Athens Olympics and the world runner-up in Indianapolis with the Argentine national team, or the four NBA champion rings with the San Antonio Spurs. He left his mark on companions... And rivals, too.
CJ McCollum can attest to that. The 30-year-old guard, a figure from New Orleans Pelicans, chose the Argentine as the first rival to “kick his ass” in his landing in the most competitive basketball league in the world, back in 2014.
The 191-centimeter basketball player participated in the series of interviews by Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles and already in the first question, he selected Manu as the opponent who made him pay the floor right (then he completed the podium with Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams).
“Ginobili, they saw him play in his time... he talked a lot. First of all, he spoke in another language (Spanish) all the time and you couldn't cross words. I remember that he asks for a play that he calls a flat angle at the end of the quarter,” he continued his sporting ordeal.
“Then he dribbled halfway up the court with his back on me, which seemed disrespectful (laughs) to turn his back on me. Then he turns around and comes to me at full speed, making me a Eurostep and tray”, he narrated the first blow. “Next play, Euro layup, and missing. The other gave a stepback and triple. He scored seven, nine... He scored almost ten points in a row on me,” he continued with his story, a real basketball lesson for a rookie.
“It was like a 'wow, I couldn't even play'. I basically ended up leaving the game. The coach wanted to tell me something and I replied: 'He does this to everyone, what do you want me to do? ' ”, completed his difficult experience with the Bahian.
Hand in hand with the aforementioned McCollum, the Pelicans, along with Atlanta Hawks, were the last qualifiers for the NBA playoffs, where they face the Phoenix Suns. Transferred a few months ago from Portland Trail Blazers,
Faced with the doubts generated by the personal care of Zion Williamson, called to be a megastar of the League, and the physical problems of Brandon Ingram, he became the leader of the franchise to reach the postseason.
“They needed more leadership, more guidance, but they also needed a guy who could really score regularly. I thought it might fit perfectly... It was kind of an unexpected blessing. I could get to a place where they needed me, but it's also a place where I could show everything I have to offer,” he said of his influence, according to NBamaniacs rescues.
Proof of his evolution and growth, of which a certain Manu Ginobili was part of as a rival, who gave him one of his first great lessons.
KEEP READING: