Bought, intimate: the day he met Maradona, his “no encounter” with Michael Jordan and more

In a radio program, the Argentine legend let himself out and told endless unmissable anecdotes. His coffee with Diego, the frustration that he didn’t face MJ in the NBA until Eminem insulted him.

With four rings of NBA shining on his fingers and various medals hanging around his neck, whenever he Emanuel Ginobili the speaker is heard. Not only because of his achievements in his 24 seasons as an elite athlete, but also because of his gift as a person, which has caused him to live unparalleled personal experiences. The day he met Diego Armando Maradona, his “no encounter” with his idol Michael Jordan and more they are counted on Everything is happening, the radio program hosted by Matías Martin.

Bought and the emotion when he met Maradona

The first meeting between the two sports legends in Argentina took place in 2005, when the native of Villa Fiorito invited him to participate in his memorable television program. “The Night of Ten” and even Manu is that “quite famous and became a champion”, the feeling with the star does not suit him what he eats: “I met him on his show and the day before we had coffee and there I kind of choked on what I was eating … when I was walking with Diego, a knife cut the tension. Diego’s presence is captivating and hypnotic. “

“The closest I had it was 16 meters”, Ginobili and his frustrated encounters with Jordan

“The year of my debut was Jordan’s last and I imagined a ‘one on one’ with him. I was recovering from an injury and I missed the first game.. I see Jordan from afar, when he played for the Wizards, he was in his forties and I was a total rookie. And in the second game I said ‘yes here …’ I played for five seconds (laughs). I was on the same court, I received the ball and I threw a banana from the half court and Jordan was on the other end. The first half ended and Pop (Gregg Popovich) no longer played me. He (Popovich) did not know what he did to me and for me it was a very serious offense. He needed me five seconds and he didn’t give me any more “, recalled the former San Antonio Spurs escort, and then ended with absolute freshness: “The court is 28 meters, the closest I got to him (in Jordan) was 16 ″.

Also, Manu recalled and told how to play against Kobe Bryant, another of his great idols as a child: “You don’t think too much. In my first game it was against Kobe and he was a year younger than me and he went on to be a two -time champion at that time.. We do scouting and before the fight Pop said, ‘what are we going to do to defend ourselves?’ And he told me ‘you’re Kobe’ and I said ‘fuck it’ ”.

However, he admitted that “The thing was different with Jordan because I had a life-sized poster in my room, I had someone else shoot free throws, or do this or that, and I talked to him at night. My siblings left and I was left alone. -one in that room.and sometimes he talks to it. He is a mythical character, more than real. That first contact was surprising because that contact came true, ” and then revealed how their sudden first meeting with MJ happened: “Once I was at the hotel before playing against the Charlotte Hornets (Jordan owned that franchise) and the elevator opened and he was there. I stuttered and I couldn’t help but ask him anything. Then I caught up with him a few times there on the pitch, but nothing ”.

Finally, the Argentine assured with a bit of bitterness that he wanted to defend Jordan even when he was older: “I would have gladly accepted, even if I have no chances, not even at 40 (from Jordan). I wish I could, even defend him on the low pole, hit him a little bit on the ribs, do to him what happens, but I didn’t approach him. It is memorable that I did not meet my idol. ”

We all like Ginobili except Eminem?

“Sometimes someone will come to greet you in court and say ‘fuck it’, and it’s an honor. In the finals, they are very close to you. For example, when we play with the Lakers on the road you see Jack Nicholson, Andy Garcia or Beyoncé sitting in the front row He started telling the orange star about all the international figures circling around the basketball courts, until he remembered when the famous American rapper insulted them from top to bottom: “I also remember one of Eminem swearing at us in Detroit. He was behind the bench, in the third row, while his little hand was swearing at us, it was a wonderful thing. One time Eminem was is everywhere. That has happened, but I don’t remember a famous person coming to ask for something “

Ginobili supported Campazzo and Vildoza in the NBA

He first started by expressing himself about the Cordovan base, who haven’t had a repeated opportunity with the Denver Nuggets this season and lamented: “It’s very strange and even a bit frustrating, to see and have fun for someone who eventually doesn’t have the opportunity to show all he or she has to offer. With Facu I played two Olympic Games and I know where it was made and all it can give. He is one of the people I want to be with always on my team. That he was left without playing in the playoffs and very few games in the regular stage, it was complicated and it should be hard for him to keep cool. This is a difficult year and it requires a lot of mental energy “.

Then, about the new albiceleste incorporation of the Milwaukee Bucks, he released: “It was a total surprise. I didn’t expect it and a door opened to be a very good team with chances to be champion. You have to wait and wait to be able to play a few minutes when there are advantages, but you never know what might happen to it. The series is long, she’s beautiful, fit, healthy, so let’s see how the season ends and what happens to her future. “