Skip to content

Argentinian fans bid goodbye to tearful Ginobili

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

There will never be another player quite like Manu Ginobili.

Nearly 20 years have passed since a wild-maned Ginobili first donned an Argentinian jersey. Along the way he won a gold medal, captured three NBA championships, lost his hair, and in the process became the face of the Golden Generation.

And on Wednesday, following Argentina's 105-78 defeat at the hands of the U.S., a sunken Ginobili sauntered off the court after playing the last game for his country.

A tearful Ginobili got the game ball for his efforts, and he poured his heart out in an emotionally charged postgame interview.

"I started playing at 19, 20 years old, and now I'm almost 40," Ginobili said. "So of course, a lot of things happened. Some amazing times, unbelievable ones, and some tough ones. Most of them with the same core group of guys, good friends, with a lot of people that I love."

Sensing that sunset had come for the Golden Generation, Argentinian fans inside the Carioca Arena 1 roared with cheers for nearly the entire fourth quarter, and continued to cheer as Ginobili and company walked off the court.

Argentinian head coach Sergio Hernandez confirmed the news of Ginobili's international retirement after the game.

"I've known him since he was a child. It's a difficult day for me," Hernandez said.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox