The 21 Greatest NBA stars that played for a single team

NBA stars that played for one team #20: Manu Ginobili

Of all the players on this list, Manu Ginobili’s path to stardom in the NBA was perhaps the most unusual. Ginobili dominated the Italian league before being selected 57th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2000 draft. He then spent another season playing abroad before joining the Spurs. Initially, Ginobili was a mere role player, though he helped the Spurs win a championship in 2003.

After Hall of Famer David Robinson retired, the team’s style of play changed, and Ginobili was able to carve out a bigger role. That led to him becoming a two-time NBA All-Star and winning Sixth Man of the Year. More importantly, he helped the Spurs make another four NBA Finals as part of the Big 3 with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

Had Ginobili played for another team, he likely would have put up bigger numbers, but he stayed and embraced coming off the bench. That also managed to extend his career and the Spurs’ title window.

Ginobili would win a total of four championships in his fourteen years with the Spurs, and his unorthodox playing style was key to their success. As a result, Ginobili is beloved in San Antonio in a way that few other NBA players are.