Gregg Popovich succinctly summed up Manu Ginobili’s importance to the Spurs.

"No Manu, no championships," Popovich said.

Popovich likened Ginobili’s competitive edge to that of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

"He has the same love of winning and maniacal approach to competitiveness," Popovich said. "It's the same as Michael and Kobe have.

"He doesn't have the same athletic ability. But he has the same spirit and competitiveness that they do. He has a high basketball IQ like they do in the sense that it could be an offensive board, a 3-point shot, a drive, a steal, an assist to win a basketball game.

"He knows what it takes. If you combine that IQ and that competitiveness, he's a special person."

Ginobili, 34, is the only active player to have won a Euroleague title, an Olympic gold medal, and an NBA championship.