On Thursday, a man who served as an ode to basketball at its purest received a fitting tribute in return, as faces from the present, past, and other threads of his expansive playing career came together to honor the singular Manu Ginobili.
“Tonight, we are all very happy for him [and] for ourselves, for having competed alongside him so much,” said Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina, speaking ahead of the game versus the Cavaliers — which, it was easy to forget, had to take place beforehand. “We’re also sad because it’s part of our lives that ends. For him to be responsible for all that, it’s incredible, for one person.