“I’m Manu, this is what I do” – Gregg Popovich recalled the moment he had no choice but to finally unleash Manu Ginobili originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Tim Duncan was the cornerstone of the San Antonio Spurs’ offense when Manu Ginobili joined the team. Coach Gregg Popovich had always been confident about Ginobili’s remarkable skills but he admittedly found it quite difficult to encourage him to buy into his system.
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Popovich knew better and understood that coaching Ginobili was a period of adjustment. Despite being challenged, Popovich remained patient with Manu. He eventually recognized that stifling Ginobili’s natural instincts wasn’t working and that, worse, it might mess up the team’s dynamic and chemistry.
In hindsight, Pop acknowledged that allowing Ginobili the freedom to express himself on the court was not only the right choice but also the essential approach to unlocking the full extent of his abilities. With that in mind, Popovich reflected on his decision without any regrets.
“You’re tough. At some point, in that first year or two years or third year or whatever it might have been, I said, ‘Why did you do that? What are you doing?’ He goes, ‘I’m Manu, this is what I do,'” Popovich once said in an open forum with Ginobili, Duncan and Tony Parker.
“And from that day on, we pretty much let him do what he does,” he continued. “So, he taught me to be a little bit more patient to widen my horizons, think out of the box a little bit more and it was great.”
Popovich realized it had got to be done the Manu way
During his playing years, Ginobili was known for his notable intensity and scoring prowess. He firmly believed that he performed at his best when the ball was in his hands, showcasing his ability to create opportunities and make pivotal plays.
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However, that did not mean that Manu wasn’t a versatile player. He was also capable of adapting his game to fit various roles within the team. Despite his undeniable qualities as a player, Ginobili admittedly struggled to find his niche within the Spurs as he and Popovich weren’t on the same page on how he would play.
“I was so frustrated that first year, waiting in the corner,” Ginobili once opened up. “I wanted the ball to make decisions. I was 25, and I wanted to take the world by storm. I thought I knew everything.”
Ginobili was a true competitor
Over time, Ginobili’s stubbornness got the better of Pop’s coaching principles. However, it was when Popovich finally let Ginobili play the way he wanted that he discovered they were both all about winning.
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“You realized there was more positive than negative,” Popovich said.
“He’s a freaking winner. I came to the conclusion that it had to be more his way than my way,” Pop admitted.
“He just gave himself permission to play how he wanted,” Duncan said of Manu while laughing. “He beat us into submission. Pop would be pulling his hair out, but eventually, we all saw Manu was steps ahead of everyone else.”
Once Popovich unleashed Ginobili, it became evident that he had a true competitor on his roster. Despite having a completely different style of play than most shooting guards in the NBA, Ginobili competed hard and played his guts out for the Spurs.
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In the process, he was promoted to the Spurs starting lineup in his third season with the team. He also earned his first All-Star appearance after averaging 16.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Since then, Ginobili became a key figure in Popovich’s system and the Spurs dynasty.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.