The San Antonio Spurs will be raising Manu Ginobili's #20 into the rafters at the AT&T Center on March 28, following their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Spurs lifer retired from the NBA this offseason after 16 seasons with the Spurs - the team that drafted him 57th overall in 1999.
Ginobili will become the ninth player in Spurs franchise history to have his number raised to the rafters, joining Bruce Bowen (12), Tim Duncan (21), Sean Elliott (32), George Gervin (44), Avery Johnson (6), Johnny Moore (00), David Robinson (50) and James Silas (13).
Over the course of his professional basketball career, Ginobili was named Euroleague MVP in 2001, won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2004, earned NBA All-Star honors twice, and captured four NBA championships with the Spurs. Ginobili played in 1,057 regular season and 218 playoff games with the Spurs, ranking fifth all-time in Spurs' history in minutes played, fifth in points (14,043), fourth in assists (4,001) and first in steals (1392).
Ginobili, 41, released the following statement regarding his decision to retire in August: "Today, with a wide range of feelings, I'm announcing my retirement from basketball. IMMENSE GRATITUDE to everyone (family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, fans) involved in my life in the last 23 years. It's been a fabulous journey. Way beyond my wildest dreams."