After 16 years in the NBA, Manu Ginobili is calling it quits.
Please take a moment or a few jillion moments to bask in your subsequent sadness. I know I will. This is a big loss for the NBA. Ginobili, 41, remained exciting to watch even as he ebbed out of his heyday.
Anywho, Ginobili and the San Antonio Spurs announced his decision on Twitter:
[tweet https://twitter.com/manuginobili/status/1034138568694923265]
[tweet https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1034139898372972544]
That pain in your chest is a heavy case of the sadz. Indulge it. Manu is worth it.
As Monday progressed, both past and present NBA stars came out in droves to express their appreciation for Ginobili and all he did for the league.
LeBron James delivered a two-part tweet:
[tweet https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1034246695834607616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034246695834607616&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
[tweet https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1034247169879040000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034247169879040000&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
Stephen Curry posted a picture of the two legendary guards hugging it up:
[tweet https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1034192333015674880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034192333015674880&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
Kobe Bryant did the same:
[tweet https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/1034233672780705792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034233672780705792&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
Chris Paul showed Manu some love:
[tweet https://twitter.com/CP3/status/1034251681137999873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034251681137999873&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
As did Dwyane Wade:
[tweet https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade/status/1034201494835195904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034201494835195904&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
If you want to feel old, here’s Gordon Hayward noting that Manu is one of the primary reasons he wears a No. 20 jersey:
[tweet https://twitter.com/gordonhayward/status/1034235019647234048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034235019647234048&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
Donovan Mitchell also weighed in:
[tweet https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1034150159737708546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034150159737708546&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
Rudy Gobert made an appearance as well:
[tweet https://twitter.com/rudygobert27/status/1034166676592386048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034166676592386048&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
Manu’s teammate, LaMarcus Aldridge, put together a nice little thread:
[tweet https://twitter.com/aldridge_12/status/1034161083689443328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034161094200369152&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
[tweet https://twitter.com/aldridge_12/status/1034161094200369152]
[tweet https://twitter.com/aldridge_12/status/1034161099363573760]
CJ McCollum paid extra homage to Manu’s eurostep:
[tweet https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/1034214314096250881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034214314096250881&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
That’s enough feelz for one post. There were more. Many more. Manu had that much of an impact on the game.
On the off chance you can handle more niceties without entering the fetal position, there’s this 50-seconds-long montage to watch:
[tweet https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1034204900488556544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1034204900488556544&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fnba-twitter-shows-manu-love]
This outpouring of support is impressive, and it’s an ironclad reminder that yes, Ginobili is going into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Between his NBA resume and international accolades, he’s an airtight shoo-in.
Anyone pretending otherwise is fooling themselves. The threshold for entry is already on the lower side, and Ginobili’s championship and stylistic legacy put him on the faster track. Basketball-Reference gives him a 20 percent Hall of Fame probability, but really, his chances are much better—formality level, even.
Happy trails, Manu. The game and its fans are going to miss ya.
