Who said he's the best sg in the league right now?

Someone said he was arguably the best sg in his prime. Which was a short 3 years.

It's a stretch but I think the argument can be made.

He was a tremendously effective and valuable SG at a time when there weren't many great SGs. Manu has always been a lot more valuable than his numbers indicate because of the Spurs' balanced team. Injury problems have also held him back from achieving his full potential, especially since Duncan handed over the reins to Tony and Manu (which would have been the best time for him to rack up stats).

I wouldn't argue that he was ever the best (Kobe takes that, even though his team sucked during that time largely due to his own ego), but Ginobili was easily top 5 and probably top 2.

[This message has been edited by Ulrich (edited 4/22/2012 12:19a).]

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There's not a single GM in the entire league that wouldn't trade nearly anyone on their roster for him

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ummmmmm

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He was a tremendously effective and valuable SG at a time when there weren't many great SGs.

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I would say that SG is probably one of the driest talent pools in the league and has been for a while.

I think Ginobili is much more valuable to the Spurs than he would've been for a lot of other teams b/c Tony Parker had much more of a scoring mentality, whereas Ginobili was always a good playmaker. I think they were the perfect complement to each other.

I think Harden for OKC is taking over the reins for the type of player Ginobili was in his prime; a solid playmaker, a good scorer, and a little unorthodox in his approach to the game.

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I wouldn't argue that he was ever the best (Kobe takes that, even though his team sucked during that time largely due to his own ego), but Ginobili was easily top 5 and probably top 2.

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I place value in the fact that Ginobili is such a versatile and team-first player. Kobe is not.

Although Kobe was CLEARLY the most talented SG in the league during the time period we are talking about, I think you can throw other guys names in there as "best" due merely to the fact that, on top of their talent, they contributed MORE to their team's success than Kobe did. Ginobili tops that list. Kobe primarily contributes to his team's success insomuch as it coincides with his own, individual success. That's not to say he can't be part of a truly great team, because clearly he can. However I think many coaches value the intangibles that Ginobili brings along with the raw talent and athleticism.

That said, I still think Kobe has to be considered the best SG over the last 10 years or so, based almost entirely on talent.

I don't think you can overrate Manu anymore. When he's cooking there is no player I'd rather watch. The guy is unique and he's a pure winner. HOFamer no doubt, easily. That being said, he'll always be under appreciated because he hasn't been on a team where he's the number guy all the time. He might've been a 25-10 guy if he would've played for a bad team that didn't have other stars.

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I wouldn't argue that he was ever the best (Kobe takes that, even though his team sucked during that time largely due to his own ego), but Ginobili was easily top 5 and probably top 2.

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he wasn't better than wade or iverson during that time

[This message has been edited by Yankees (edited 4/23/2012 12:40p).]

Manu is a first ballot HOF'er without a doubt, the HOF gives huge props to int'l accomplishments and Manu is probably the best ever "true" int'l player, meaning someone that was truly a superstar in Europe, the WC, the Olympics, and the NBA. He also led the team that "took down" team USA and ended "the streak" and won a Gold Medal.

He isn't the best SG but much of that is how he was used we will never know how good he could have been individually. He was never in a situation where he was expected to score 30 a night, though he showed he could on occasion, and scoring will always be how SG's are measured ultimately. That said there has never been a player quite like Manu and there likely won't ever be again. His success at every level, his unique style of play, and his ferocious desire to win and compete make him someone that is just a pleasure to watch. It will be a sad day when he finally hangs it up. Personally I am amazed he can still play as well and recklessly as he does at his age.

Iverson is probably the most over hyped "Star" of the last thirty years.

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he wasn't better than wade or iverson during that time

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It's funny that you mention two players from the U.S. Olympic team that got their ass handed to them by Argentina.

He's been the 3rd option most of his career. Those guys are in a great situation where if they perform well, people really notice. However, we they have a bad game or don't show up, people don't remember those as much as they remember the bad games from the 1st or 2nd option.

When OKC has a bad game, you usually hear about Durant and Westbrook, not Harden.
When the heat struggle, it usually falls on Lebron.

Obviously this doesn't change the things Manu does on the court, but rather the perception people have of him.

Manu is going to be a first ballot HOF-er. Manu was one of the pioneers of the foreigner invasion into the NBA back in the early 2000s.

The Spurs might still only have the 1999 championship had Ginobili played somewhere besides San Antonio. He has been that integral to the team each year since his rookie campaign. We saw how important he was last year, leading the Spurs to the best record and then getting injured going into the playoffs and the Spurs folded easily in the 1st round. The only reason they didn't get swept by Memphis last year was Manu's gutsy play with a broken arm.

Not overrated at all. Timmy is the Spurs' foundation. Tony is the motor that makes it go. Manu is the heart and soul. What he brings to the team when he's healthy is truly immeasurable.

For a while there I actually underestimated Manu... it's easy to forget how important he is to the Spurs when you don't get to see him play.

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Manu is a slam dunk first ballot hall of famer. He has done enough with outside the NBA to lock that down.

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You are setting yourself up for major disappointment

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You are setting yourself up for major disappointment

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Nope, he's not, but thanks for playing!

His greatness is similiar to how MJ needed Scottie Pippen. Great teams have great players that compliment each other. Every championship team has 2-3 great players.

In fact for much of his career, the ball was often in his hands (not Tony's) to close out games. He was the best player on the 2005 playoff run and should have been Finals MVP. He is a no-brainer, 1st ballot HOFer.

Aside from all of that he's been my favorite player to watch over the last 12 years because of his tenacious defense, imaginative shot making and eye popping passes. I hope there is a similiar player I can follow after his retirement.

[This message has been edited by bmart97 (edited 4/25/2012 9:46a).]

Have not kept up with this thread but heard something today:
Ginobili is #32 all-time per, and every retired players ahead of him is already in the hall of fame except Shaq and Yao.

Ginobili will be in the HOF before Yao.

You heard it here first.

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Ginobili will be in the HOF before Yao.

You heard it here first.

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It's certainly possible. Both should be HOFers, but neither will be first ballot IMO.

Are these guys HOFs?

Goege Gervin
Clyde Drexler
Patrick Ewing
Iverson
Vince
Stockton
Erving
Baylor
West
Oscar
Garnett
Nash
McHale
Cousy

Manu ranks near or higher than everyone on that list in career PER.

32nd, for as long as they have kept stats.


Just to fan the flames, Tim Duncan is a better basketball player than Kobe Bryant

Dammit Clay, you just sent the Simpleton Bat signal.

Huge Spurs fan my whole life. But I've always said that if Manu played for another team I would despise him. His game is so unorthodox, he makes so many strange shots and crazy passes and he's a grade A flopper. So glad he is a Spur.