Gracias Manu – Spurs retire Manu Ginobili's No. 20 jersey

After a narrow victory against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, the San Antonio Spurs retired legendary player Manu Ginobili's No. 20 jersey, making him the ninth player in Spurs franchise history to receive the honor after 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).

Roaring whoops of "Manu" from the stands galvanized the ATT Center as the prelude of the ceremony hosted by former Spurs small forward Sean Elliott.

Former Spurs point guard Tony Parker, former Spurs and Argentina teammate Fabricio Oberto, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and former Spurs forward Tim Duncan delivered candid speeches filled with humor.

"You just was unique, nobody is like you in the whole history of the game," said Tony Parker. "You were so unique that even Pop did not know what to do with you in the first two years."

The 2007 Finals MVP winner thanked Manu for the inspiration, which helped him become a better player when playing together.

Argentinian Oberto, a gold medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and NBA title winner in 2007, said Manu impacted his basketball career and his personal life.

Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs gives a speech during the jersey retirement ceremony of former San Antonio Spurs player Manu Ginobili at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, March 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

Popovich, who coached Manu's whole NBA career, recalled his first impression: "...a young kid who was fearless, a little bit of whack job on the court, but tenacious and tough."

Manu saw limited playing time in his first season due to an ankle injury, but recovered to grow into an impact player and NBA title winner.

"Without Manu, there were no championships," said Popovich. The coach thanked the future Hall of Famer for "agreeing grudgingly to come off the bench." The Argentinian accepted the role for all but 349 of his 1,057 games in San Antonio.

Tim Duncan, a member of the Spurs "Big Three," told the audience when Manu first arrived, while still battling an injury, he faced some tough love from teammate Bruce Bowen. However, instead of backing down, the rookie didn't bat an eye and kept playing. "That's when I knew we had somebody," Duncan said.

"You saw things before anybody else did," said Duncan. "You did things nobody else would. You were unbelievable."

Retired San Antonio Spurs player Manu Ginobili gives a speech as he is honored during his jersey retirement ceremony after the game between the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, March 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

Manu delivered the closing speech, in both English and Spanish. "I'm telling you, I'm one of the lucky ones. I've been dealt amazing cards. I just had to play them OK. That was all I had to do."

The Spurs then lifted his No. 20 jersey into the rafters, next to Duncan's No. 21 jersey among the fevered spectators.

Selected by the Spurs in the second round with the 57th overall pick of the 1999 draft, Manu Ginobili won four NBA championship titles during his 16 NBA seasons with San Antonio.

(Top image and infographic: Li Yueyun)