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San Antonio Spurs: The greatest Olympic performances in team history

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

MELBOURNE, AUS - AUGUST 24: Patty Mills #5 of the Australia Boomers walks out to the court before the game against USA on August 24, 2019 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUS - AUGUST 24: Patty Mills #5 of the Australia Boomers walks out to the court before the game against USA on August 24, 2019 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Manu Ginobili
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Manu Ginobili vs. Italy

Final Score: Argentina, 84; Italy, 69

Final Statistics: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4-of-6 FG, 0-of-1 3P, 8-of-9 FT

In terms of pure importance, perhaps no single game is more earth-shaking than Manu Ginobili’s performance in the gold medal game against Italy. After all, should Manu have upset Team USA and then somehow fallen short against Italy, chances are, that legendary game serves as more of a footnote in history than its chapter.

As history would have it, Argentina wouldn’t succumb to those pressures. Even though it was Luis Scola who played the role of Tim Duncan on this date, Ginobili stepped into the “Robin” role as he so gracefully does, pouring in 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.

For most, the standout attribute for Ginobili is his scoring. On this night, the two-time All-Star took on a Magic Johnson-type role, running the fast breaks with purpose, and setting up teammates for dimes such as this.

It’s worth bringing up that score in the bottom left: Argentina would eventually pull away for a 15-point victory. For roughly three-fourths of the game, though, Argentina was in a deadlock, battling for the gold.
It’s worth bringing up that score in the bottom left: Argentina would eventually pull away for a 15-point victory. For roughly three-fourths of the game, though, Argentina was in a deadlock, battling for the gold. /

Some 15 years later, Ginobili (and his fans) can use performances such as this to combat the notion that he had only reached the levels of success that he did because of the Spurs’ system.

For him, it brought everything full circle. Within four seasons, Ginobili had helped taken three different teams — 2001’s EuroLeague’s Italy Virtus Bologna, the 2002-03 Spurs, the 2004 Argentina Olympic Team — to the mountaintop. It was also the first time Argentina — in any sport — had won a gold medal since 1952.

Ginobili has had better individual showings in both his NBA career and Olympic and International career. Though, it’s difficult to say that any of those reach that that same level of importance as what happened on in the summer of 2004.