Manu Ginobili receives the best compliment an NBA legend can get

During the Tim Duncan years, Spurs fans were constantly defending their team from highlight merchants who claimed the Silver and Black were a boring team to watch. Baloney. First of all, there is nothing more entertaining than watching your team smack opponents night after night. They won games by suffocating teams and playing great together. It was awesome to watch. Secondly, San Antonio housed one of the most exciting players in NBA history: Manu Ginobili.

Author Kirk Goldsberry was formerly the Vice President of the San Antonio Spurs strategic research department from 2016–2018, so he was a part of the organization, but he wasn't there for the best of Ginobili. But that didn't stop him from recognizing Manu's impact in his book, The Five Superstars Who Invented the Modern NBA. Goldsberry discussed his work on Derek Thompson's Plain English Podcast.

Ginobili pulled off moves that left you scratching your head. His skilled behind-the-back passes and crafty footwork were second to none. Fans in the 2-1-0 were firmly aware of both the tangible production and intangibles Manu brought to San Antonio. They're hard to miss when you watch the games. But it's nice to see others remembering the Argentinian legend for the impact he had on the league and how that impact is still alive today.

The 1999 second-round pick was a winner. He brought his flare for the game to the United States, but his highlights were never selfish. They were always in service of making the best play possible to lead his team to victory. His euro-step was a major weapon during that journey, and he utilized it in a way that won't soon be forgotten by his peers and loyal fans.

Listen to the whole episode below!