Less than 24 hours after Manu Ginobili's 17-foot jumper with 13 seconds left gave the Spurs a two-point victory over the Bucks on March 1, coach Gregg Popovich approached Ginobili outside the team's locker room at the Izod Center.
The Spurs were to meet the New Jersey Nets in about two hours, and the coach wanted a private talk. Before a word had passed between them, Ginobili knew his short stint as a starter was over. He knew he was headed back to his role as Popovich's sixth man.
"When he comes with that look," Ginobili said then, "I know what he's going to say. He said it was the best for the team, and I want what's best for the team, too."
Ginobili's selfless professionalism officially was recognized Monday by the media that covers the NBA. He was named the winner of the league's Sixth Man Award, given annually to the league's best bench player.
The 30-year-old guard from Bahia Blanca, Argentina, accepted the award with typical humility. The best part of winning it, he said, was that sponsoring Kia Motors gave a 2009 Kia Borrego SUV to the Roy Maas Youth Alternatives of San Antonio, which is committed to caring for children in crisis. Ginobili has devoted much time and energy to the organization.
"It's always great to be recognized as a player and get an award," he said, "and have the opportunity to do some good, too. So, thanks to Kia, Youth Alternatives is going to have a brand new truck that is badly needed. I am honored and happy also to help people at the same time."
Ginobili wasn't entirely certain, though, what Monday's fuss was about.
"I really don't feel there is a lot of difference between a sixth man and a starter," he said. "It depends on the situation. It depends on what the coach wants at that part of the season. So I just consider myself a player; a team player.
"This year, it was more important for me to come from the bench, so I try to do it the best I can. At this time, I guess it works. I got an award, and the team is doing good. That is the importance of the whole thing."
In Ginobili's case, calling him a bench player is a technicality. His teammates understand he comes off the bench only because it is the role that optimizes the team's chances for success.
"He's been our best player all year long," said two-time MVP Tim Duncan. "He's accepted a role coming off the bench and given us a boost in that area. It's just well deserved because he's accepted that role and done the best with it."
No Spurs player appreciates Ginobili's sacrifice more than Michael Finley, the guard who supplanted him in the starting lineup.
"He's an un-ordinary All-Star," Finley said. "He's a guy who should be starting, playing major minutes. But he's willing to sacrifice that for the betterment of the team."
Popovich knows Ginobili is an All-Star with rare qualities.
"Manu is a player much more concerned about the group than himself," he said. "He got over himself a long time ago. It's all about his team and what he can do, and he will do whatever is best.
"I don't think there are too many All-Stars that coaches in this league could go to and say, 'You've been great. Now you're going to come off the bench.' So I'm very fortunate."
The 30-year-old guard, the first Sixth Man Award winner since Rickey Pierce in 1987 to lead his team in scoring, received 123 first-place votes from a 124-person media voting panel.
MySA.com..
The Spurs were to meet the New Jersey Nets in about two hours, and the coach wanted a private talk. Before a word had passed between them, Ginobili knew his short stint as a starter was over. He knew he was headed back to his role as Popovich's sixth man.
"When he comes with that look," Ginobili said then, "I know what he's going to say. He said it was the best for the team, and I want what's best for the team, too."
Ginobili's selfless professionalism officially was recognized Monday by the media that covers the NBA. He was named the winner of the league's Sixth Man Award, given annually to the league's best bench player.
The 30-year-old guard from Bahia Blanca, Argentina, accepted the award with typical humility. The best part of winning it, he said, was that sponsoring Kia Motors gave a 2009 Kia Borrego SUV to the Roy Maas Youth Alternatives of San Antonio, which is committed to caring for children in crisis. Ginobili has devoted much time and energy to the organization.
"It's always great to be recognized as a player and get an award," he said, "and have the opportunity to do some good, too. So, thanks to Kia, Youth Alternatives is going to have a brand new truck that is badly needed. I am honored and happy also to help people at the same time."
Ginobili wasn't entirely certain, though, what Monday's fuss was about.
"I really don't feel there is a lot of difference between a sixth man and a starter," he said. "It depends on the situation. It depends on what the coach wants at that part of the season. So I just consider myself a player; a team player.
"This year, it was more important for me to come from the bench, so I try to do it the best I can. At this time, I guess it works. I got an award, and the team is doing good. That is the importance of the whole thing."
In Ginobili's case, calling him a bench player is a technicality. His teammates understand he comes off the bench only because it is the role that optimizes the team's chances for success.
"He's been our best player all year long," said two-time MVP Tim Duncan. "He's accepted a role coming off the bench and given us a boost in that area. It's just well deserved because he's accepted that role and done the best with it."
No Spurs player appreciates Ginobili's sacrifice more than Michael Finley, the guard who supplanted him in the starting lineup.
"He's an un-ordinary All-Star," Finley said. "He's a guy who should be starting, playing major minutes. But he's willing to sacrifice that for the betterment of the team."
Popovich knows Ginobili is an All-Star with rare qualities.
"Manu is a player much more concerned about the group than himself," he said. "He got over himself a long time ago. It's all about his team and what he can do, and he will do whatever is best.
"I don't think there are too many All-Stars that coaches in this league could go to and say, 'You've been great. Now you're going to come off the bench.' So I'm very fortunate."
The 30-year-old guard, the first Sixth Man Award winner since Rickey Pierce in 1987 to lead his team in scoring, received 123 first-place votes from a 124-person media voting panel.
MySA.com..
