“You have no choice but to enjoy playing with someone like that” – Tim Duncan revealed what made Manu Ginobili the perfect teammate originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The fact that the San Antonio Spurs secured each of their five NBA championships under the leadership of Tim Duncan remains a testament to his role as the team’s catalyst. Thus, it comes as no surprise that many credit Duncan with the franchise’s sustained success, which saw them lift the silverware from 1999 to as late as 2014.
Advertisement
However, for the two-time MVP, had it not been for a selfless, devoted teammate in Manu Ginobili, who prioritized team success over chasing individual glory, the Spurs might have had a hard time achieving such dominance.
Manu Ginobili was everything the Spurs needed
The Spurs have long been recognized as a franchise unlike any other in the NBA, favoring players who steer clear of controversy, maintain exemplary discipline and channel their full energy toward on-court performance without chasing the spotlight themselves.
Advertisement
Ginobili embodied these values from the moment he joined the team. Thus, he seamlessly integrated into the team and averaged 9.4 points per game in the playoffs to help the Spurs win a title in 2003, when he was just a rookie.
By the 2004-05 season, Manu had earned a spot in the starting lineup and justified his place by earning his first All-Star nod in the regular season, then averaging 20.8 points per game in the playoffs to help San Antonio lift the Larry O’Brien trophy for the second time in three years.
Yet, even after proving his worth as a starter – a role most players remain reluctant to relinquish – Ginobili embraced a transition role back to the bench without hesitation. What’s even more impressive? In the 2007 playoffs, he averaged 16.7 points and 1.7 steals per game while coming off the bench, to make his two-way coincide with the Spurs winning another title.
Advertisement
This unwavering willingness to adapt was precisely the kind of selfless commitment that Duncan revered in Ginobili. Moreover, he admitted how it was an absolute honor to share the court with someone who sacrificed so much personal glory and accolades only to keep their franchise first throughout their career.
“You have no choice but to enjoy playing with someone like that,” Duncan said about playing with Ginobili in an interview. “Someone that has such a high basketball IQ, has such a high competitive nature, who’s out there just to win.”
Manu Ginobili was everything that the San Antonio Spurs needed
With Timmy’s dominance in the post and Tony Parker’s offensive prowess, San Antonio needed a player capable of seamlessly adjusting to various roles on both ends of the floor. Put simply, someone who could deliver high efficiency in limited minutes without voicing frustration, even when his full scoring potential remained untapped. Ginobili fulfilled that role to perfection, demonstrating an unshakable team-first mentality.
Advertisement
Ultimately, this brand of humility, adaptability and sacrifice from Ginobili helped cement San Antonio as one of the winningest franchises in NBA history, and Duncan recognized this.
Related: Michael Porter Jr. opens up about his personal struggles: “Women has always been my vice”
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.