This could have been the last season that San Antonio basketball fans have had the pleasure of watching Manu Ginobili play. He has been a pillar holding up the Spurs organization for 15 seasons now, won four NBA Championships, and played in 217 career NBA Playoff games. He has won two medals in the Olympics, been an NBA All-Star, and has been crowned the MVP of both the Italian League and EuroLeague Finals. People all over the world admire him for his humble attitude and determination to keep winning year after year. We may not seem to have much in common, but I have been thinking about the type of guy he seems to be. Being a mom is no joke, and maybe Manu is more of a kindred spirit than you might think.
Here’s what I’ve learned from Manu over the years:
Age is just a number. Manu may have been a late bloomer by NBA standards when he came into the league at 25, but here he is, still playing at 40 years old, far older than the average NBA player. Just last year, he had a clutch block in Game 5 of the NBA Finals that showed everyone why experience is better than hype. Every year, new players join the team, and he still shows them up. He seems to have perfected his training regiment over the years to stay in shape and endure long seasons. As mothers, we see people drift in and out of our lives at all different ages and stages, but we also know that a good friend with experience to share can make a world of difference. And even if we are exhausted and feel like throwing in the towel, we just keep waking up every day and mom-ing on.
When you find your tribe, you stick with them. This season, Manu and Tony Parker became the NBA pair with the most playoff wins in league history, and Manu and Tim Duncan sit in third place. Through their years together, “The Big Three” quietly became champions but generally avoided the celebrity pull. Other than their endearingly silly H-E-B commercials, most of the Spurs rarely seek out a public spotlight. They seem to like winning far more than being national super stars. If we are lucky enough as moms to find a tribe that supports us through the hard times and encourages us to be our best, let’s hope that it can last for decades too!
You won’t always get the glory. Manu is frequently mentioned as one of the best bench players in the league and was awarded the title of Sixth Man of the Year in 2008. It would seem that after a Championship or two, Coach Pop would make Manu a permanent starter. However, that was not the case. Manu has continued to be left out of the starting rotation for the majority of his career, but that certainly hasn’t slowed down his contributions to the team. Throughout his career, he has averaged 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 13.3 points per game. But there were also many seasons that ended without the big ring—this one included. As moms, many times we may feel like we give all we have every day when there is no prize at the end. We can learn to take pride in our efforts and how we elevate those around us. We can also sense when another mom needs some words of encouragement and praise, and hopefully, like Manu, be quick to offer it.
You can defy their expectations. The experts always have plenty of opinions when it comes to which players will rise to prominence and which teams will dominate the rest. There have been a handful of years now that the commentators have bet on Manu quietly heading for retirement. If the time has come, Manu has major bragging rights for his tenacity. Moms understand that there are often doubters, discouragers, and those who don’t understand all the things we are working for. Whether you are a career chaser or a CEO of your household, you do you, Mama! Don’t let those outside your circle of trust give you any pause about your goals. When you are willing to put in the work, you can do anything you darn well please.
To our dear Manu, all of us at Alamo City Moms Blog love rooting for you and the Spurs, and we thank you for making us proud for so many years. I bet you never knew how much you mean to us mamas!
