In a recent mailbag with NBA.com, San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili opened up about pretty much everything. He talked about anything from food and music to his NBA career and how he stays in top shape at his age.
I love reading these mailbags because, most of the time, fans ask better questions than reporters. The questions aren’t focused on what Manu was thinking when he decided to pass to Tim Duncan in the 4th quarter instead of taking the wide-open shot. They delve into what these players are like on a more intimate level, allowing them to share what their lives are really like, away from the game of basketball.
My favorite part of the interview was when someone asked him about the Lakers adding Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Of course he’s not going to give the Lakers any bulletin board material, but he did say, “adding talent doesn’t always mean you’re going to be better.” I guess Manu won’t be sold on L.A. until they prove they can play as a unit.
Manu also talks about what his biggest fear coming into the league was.
He was scared he wouldn’t get an opportunity to prove what he could do. Luckily for the Spurs, he got that chance and it has paid off for years.
A lot of people want to know how Manu stays at top physical condition even as he enters the latter years of his career. It’s clear Ginobili is a hard worker, but it also doesn’t seem like he’s a slave to the gym or getting in too many reps on the court. It looks like he just keeps thing in a routine that helps him stay sharp. Go with what works.
Check out the whole mailbag when you get a chance. It’s an opportunity to really get to know one of the most favorite Spurs of all time.