San Antonio Spurs: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

5. Manu Ginobili (SG) — No. 57 pick in 1999 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Spurs):  992 GP, 13.6 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 44.7 FG%, 37.0 3P%, 82.6 FT% 

Manu Ginobili might be “just” the fifth best draft selection in San Antonio Spurs history, but he’s definitely the best steal on their draft record. To not only draft a rotation player, or a 15-year veteran, or even an All-Star with the 57th pick, but a future Hall-of-Famer?

There have really only been two other 57th overall picks to have productive NBA careers: current Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat, and former New York Knicks pick Frank Brickowski, and neither ever made an All-Star team.

When the Spurs selected Ginobili in 1999, they had just won their first NBA championship and probably never thought this 21-year-old would help them win four more. It was not until he was a two-time Italian league MVP that he signed with the Spurs and started playing in the NBA in 2002.

In his first NBA season in 2002-03, the Spurs won their second NBA championship. During the regular season he came off the bench for 20.7 minutes a night, but was a factor in the playoffs, playing 27.5 minutes per game. He averaged 9.4 points and 1.7 steals to help propel the team to the title, and he never looked back from there.

Ginobili followed up his All-Rookie Second Team campaign with alternating super sixth man and All-Star starter years. In two of his three years as a full-time starter, he was named to the All-Star team (2005 and 2011), and was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He was also named to the All-NBA Third Team in for the 2007-08 and 2010-11 seasons.

In the postseason it’s been no different. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Ginobili’s production has been unquestionable. From his second year with the team through their last title run in 2013-14, Manu averaged 16.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

But it isn’t always about stats when it comes to Ginobili. In fact, it’s more often about the way he plays and the types of plays he creates, more than the numbers he puts up. Ginobili’s fearless attitude combined with his skill and basketball intelligence have allowed him to come through in the clutch for the Spurs.

Whether it’s a big shot, assist or defensive play, the Argentine always comes through. Even in his last three playoffs, where on average he’s scored less than seven points a night, time and time again Ginobili is making a difference…

Manu Ginobili will go down as one of the all-time greats in San Antonio Spurs history. He is a four-time champion and perhaps one of the greatest international players and sixth men our league has ever seen. Not bad for the 57th pick in the draft.