Remembering Manu Ginobili's most epic game in every NBA season

In perhaps the greatest NBA Draft decision of all time, the San Antonio Spurs decided to take a chance on a draft-and-stash prospect, Manu Ginobili, in 1999. Little did anyone know he'd turn out to be one of the most influential players in basketball history.

Spanning 1,275 total games from 2002 to 2018, Ginobili's unmatched heart and hustle were on full display for each of the 32,934 minutes he logged in the regular season and playoffs. Naturally, his will to win led to many epic games over the course of his Hall of Fame career, and the Spurs are four trophies richer because of that.

From his first game at age 25 to his last at 40, here's a look at one phenomenal performance from each of his 16 seasons in the league.

2003 - Manu's huge Game 4 puts Spurs on cusp of NBA Finals

Manu Ginobili's rookie season was pretty standard. He had some flashes of brilliance, some ill-advised decisions, and many growing pains throughout. Still, he was playing alongside prime Tim Duncan, who was in the midst of one of the greatest individual seasons anyone has ever had in the NBA.

Duncan's dominance allowed for Ginobili to learn on the fly, but when the Spurs had a chance to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals, he put it all together for a breakout performance. Burying four of his five 3-point attempts, Ginobili finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and two steals as San Antonio won by seven on the road to get them within a game of the NBA Finals.

While it took the Spurs a couple more games to close out the Dallas Mavericks, the eventual toppling of their Texas rival led to a date with the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals -- and ultimately their second NBA title.

2004 - Manu pushes superteam Lakers to brink without Duncan, Parker

Just take a look at these starting lineups and tell me the result you'd expect in this game.

Los Angeles Lakers
Shaquille O'Neal
Kobe Bryant
Gary Payton
Karl Malone
Devean George

San Antonio Spurs
Rasho Nesterovic
Manu Ginobili
Jason Hart
Malik Rose
Bruce Bowen

This isn't meant to knock any of Manu's teammates here, but let's be real -- we're talking about four Hall of Famers against one. With Tim Duncan and Tony Parker unavailable, Ginobili's fire burned so bright that he almost helped San Antonio pull off a miracle at the SBC Center in a 2004 game.

Posting a near triple-double with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, Manu led the way as the Spurs forced the Lakers into two overtimes before falling 120-117. I have a feeling Ginobili doesn't really believe in moral victories, but the fact that this game was even remotely close just speaks to his greatness.

2005 - Ginobili's clutch Game 7 brings the Spurs title no. 3

One of the few accolades Manu Ginobili never received was an NBA Finals MVP, and many believe that shouldn't have been the case. The 2005 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons showcased Ginobili at his ultimate peak, and his efforts made all the difference between two teams as evenly matched as the league has ever seen.

With Game 7 of the Finals tied 57-57 heading into the final quarter, it was going to come down to which stars wanted it more in the final 12 minutes. Unsurprisingly, the answer turned out to be Manu Ginobili.

In a quarter that would decide who is crowned champions, Manu scored 11 points, pulled down three boards, and dished out two assists. At the end of the night, he had a line of 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists to seal the victory for San Antonio.

Tim Duncan took home the hardware as the NBA Finals MVP, but Spurs fans know that Ginobili was equally as, maybe even more important toward that title run.

2006 - Ginobili's 32 puts Spurs in command over Kings

Despite finishing with a 63-19 record in 2006, the Spurs had their work cut out for them when facing the Sacramento Kings in round one of those playoffs. For whatever reason, Bonzi Wells turned into prime Hakeem Olajuwon whenever he saw Silver and Black on the other side of the court, and that continued here.

Still, the Spurs managed to blow out Sacramento in Game 1 before returning to the AT&T Center three days later hoping for a repeat performance. With Tim Duncan having a rare off night after facing numerous double teams, Ginobili picked up the slack in a big way, scoring 32 points and dishing out nine dimes in a 128-119 Spurs win.

As it turned out, the Spurs needed that 2-0 lead, as the Kings fought back to tie the series before falling in Games 5 and 6.

2007 - Manu shuts the door on Phoenix Suns with a cool 33

I think it's safe to say the Phoenix Suns had nightmares featuring Manu Ginobili throughout the 2000s. He constantly answered the call when needed against his Western Conference rivals, which included a 48-point explosion in 2005.

In front of a home crowd, the Spurs were looking to close out the Suns in six games in the second round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. As they did so often, the Big Three showed up in a massive way, with Ginobili being the brightest star at the end of the night.

The 33 points Manu poured in was the third-most he ever scored in a postseason game, and he added 11 boards, six assists, and four steals on top of that. It was truly one of the best games he ever played, and the performance led to another Western Conference Finals appearance and, eventually, another NBA title.

2008 - Cavs have no answer for red-hot Manu Ginobili at home

The 2007-08 season was the highest-scoring season of Manu's career, as he averaged 19.5 points per game despite only starting 23 times. The fact that he didn't make an All-Star team despite having multiple season-highs that year is a tragedy, as he was arguably hitting a second peak at this time.

During a visit to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland in February, 2008, Ginobili went absolutely bonkers, putting up 46 points and dishing eight assists while also tallying three steals. It was a performance that even outshined the great LeBron James, who scored 39 points, and it led to a 112-105 victory that sent the crowd back to their homes scratching their heads.

2009 - Manu outduels Stephen Jackson in Oakland

A few years removed from helping the Spurs win their second NBA championship, Stephen Jackson was thriving for the "we believe" era Golden State Warriors that ended up shocking the first-seeded Dallas Mavericks in 2007.

Jackson's peak scoring years happened then, and he was showcasing every bit of that during a February 2009 matchup in Oakland against San Antonio. Scoring 33 points, Jackson fought hard to keep his depleted squad alive, but Ginobil proved too much in the end.

Ginobili and Duncan both scored 32 points apiece as the Spurs won 110-105 to climb to 33-14 on the season.

2010 - Manu pours in 43 points in a rare start

Manu Ginobili only had 21 starts in the 2009-10 season, and the Orlando Magic probably wish their game wasn't one of them. Boasting a 53-22 record behind a lineup including Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis, Orlando visited the Spurs for an April 2010 matchup that got away from them in the third quarter.

In the contest, Manu did his best impression of James Harden, getting to the line for 17 free throws and burying 14 of them. By the time the Spurs won 112-100, he'd scored a monstrous 43 points while securing six rebounds and handing out five dimes. All in a day's work.

2011 - Ginobili's heart keeps the Spurs alive against Memphis

The 2011 postseason was one to forget for the Silver and Black. Not only were they become one of a few one seeds to be eliminated by an eighth seed, but they also had numerous untimely injuries to deal with. In fact, Ginobili later revealed he had actually broken his arm in the final game of the Spurs' regular season. One week later, he was suiting up with a huge brace to help the Spurs fight back against Memphis.

Between Ginobili's severely debilitating injury, Tim Duncan's bum ankle, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson underperforming, and the Grizzlies playing well above their record, the Spurs didn't have much of a chance in this one.

Still, down 3-1 in the series and facing elimination at home, Manu put on one of the most heroic performances of his career. Scoring 33 points on 10-of-18 from the floor, he allowed the Spurs to fight another day by leading them to a 110-103 victory despite having half of a limb to work with. It was an unfortunate series of events for the Spurs, but one in which Manu showed how big his heart is.

2012 - Manu fills the stat sheet in a pivotal Game 5

The 2011-12 season wasn't very kind to Manu Ginobili. A broken hand kept him sidelined for 22 straight games and an oblique strain shelved him for another handful. All in all, he was only able to show up in 34 regular season games before the Spurs made a run to the Western Conference Finals.

Unfortunately, the Oklahoma City Thunder weren't going to be denied that season, at least until the NBA Finals. Behind the trio of Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden, they tied the series with San Antonio at two games apiece, setting up a huge Game 5 at the AT&T Center.

In the end, a combined 70 points from the big three in OKC was enough to give the Thunder a series lead they'd never give up, but it didn't happen without a huge fight from Manu Ginobili. Nailing five 3-pointers in 10 attempts, he scored 34 points in addition to his seven assists and six rebounds to give the Spurs a fighting chance before they fell 108-103.

2013 - Manu 's double-double puts Spurs a game away from a title

As painful as the result ended up, there's no denying the 2013 NBA Finals was one of the greatest playoff series the league has ever seen. Both sides had multiple future Hall of Famers duking it out surrounded by terrific supporting casts.

When the Heat visited the Spurs on June 16, 2013, San Antonio was looking to take a 3-2 lead in the series to get within one game of another NBA title. Thanks to stellar nights from Danny Green, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, they were able to do just that.

In fact, the starting unit that also included Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan scored 107 of the team's 114 total points in the game, with Manu chipping in 24 of his own. To top it all off, he also tied Dwyane Wade for a game-high in assists with 10.

2014 - Ginobili's efficient Game 5 helps complete the revenge tour

Almost exactly one year after lifting the Spurs to a Game 5 victory, Manu Ginobili did so once again. This time, however, there would be no Game 6. On a rampage after being seconds away from a title in 2013, San Antonio probably would've given the 1992 Dream Team a run for its money with how they played in the 2014 NBA Finals.

Handing the Heat a 17-point beating to clinch a fifth championship, the Spurs had five guys finish in double figures, led by Kawhi Leonard's 22. Meanwhile, a nearly 37-year-old Manu Ginobili shot 6-for-11 from the field and 3-of-6 from downtown to finish with 19 points, four assists, and four rebounds.

The Spurs' margin of victory in those NBA Finals still stands as the second-largest for a finals series in league history.

2015 - Manu blows up for nearly 30 off the bench

Turning 37 before the start of the 2014-15 season, Manu Ginobili still was able to play in 70 of the team's 82 games that year, averaging nearly 23 minutes per game. With the emergence of Kawhi Leonard joining Duncan and Parker as anchors of the team, he wasn't asked to do as much for the rest of his career.

Still, Manu had throwback nights fairly often, including on one November night at home against the Indiana Pacers. Looking for their 10th win in their season's first 14 games, the Spurs were clinging to a one-point lead heading into the fourth when Manu assured they wouldn't lose it.

Ginobili's 28 points were a game-high, and most importantly, the Spurs secured another W.

2016 - Manu barely misses in a dominant bench performance

With Manu on the better side of 38 years old and Tim Duncan approaching 40, Gregg Popovich wisely started to shift the team's focal points to Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard for the 2015-16 season. The result? Only a franchise-best 67 wins.

This team had a perfect blend of valuable veterans and emerging stars, and Ginobili still had plenty of nights when he was the best player on the court. In March 2016, the Spurs had a 52-9 record when they hosted the Sacramento Kings. Despite Aldridge missing this game, San Antonio didn't miss a beat.

Behind 25 from Leonard and 22 from Ginobili, the Spurs won 104-94, and Manu's 8-for-11 shooting night was a big reason.

2017 - Manu fights Golden State valiantly against impossible odds

The 2017 Western Conference Finals will always remain one of the biggest what-ifs in Spurs history. After all, Kawhi Leonard was going berserk to lead the Spurs to a huge lead on the road in Game 1 until Golden State's Zaza Pachulia effectively ended the series before it could really start.

With Duncan retired and Parker rupturing his tendon in the second round, only one of the Big Three was left to take on the Warriors' big three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. As expected, the result wasn't pretty for San Antonio.

Still, Manu Ginobili wasn't about to go down without a fight. In Game 3, the 39-year-old scored 21 points in under 18 minutes in a 12-point loss. Just two days later, he scored another 15 points while also recording seven assists and three steals.

The series would've certainly looked much different if Leonard hadn't gone down, and his injury remains the biggest event that led to the extended rebuilding process the Spurs have since been on.

2018 - Manu turns in back-to-back vintage performances at age 40

Manu Ginobili's final season in the NBA came with just two 20-point performances. Funny enough, they happened in back-to-back games in January of 2018. At age 40, he carved up the Phoenix Suns for 21 points, only missing three of his 10 shots from the field as the Spurs won by 14.

Against the Portland Trail Blazers two days later, Manu turned back the clock again, scoring 26 points off the bench at the Moda Center. Although it ended in a one-point loss, this was the most points he would score in his last season. His 26 puts him in a club with Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Robert Parish, and John Stockton as players to score 25 or more in a game at age 40.

Manu Ginobili Week continues with a look at where he'd land in a 1999 NBA redraft.