Manu Ginobili's Top 10 Argentina games

MIES (Switzerland) - Argentina legend Manu Ginobili will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 10. With the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup entering its final phase right now, there is not a better moment to celebrate his amazing FIBA career.

The favorite son of Bahia Blanca took international basketball by storm, playing first at the 1997 World Championship for Men '22 and Under' and then with the senior team from the 1998 FIBA Basketball World Cup to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Here are the top 10 games of Ginobili's Argentina career (a selection by an international basketball expert and not officially by FIBA). 

No 1 - Argentina 89 USA 81, 2004 Olympic Semi-Final

In one of the great moments in Argentina sports history, Ginobili put is country on his back and carried them to victory with 29 points. He was nine of 14 from the floor, and four of six from behind the arc. Argentina booked their first appearance in the Gold Medal Game of the Olympics. It also continued Argentina's success against the Americans, whom they beat two years before in the Eighth-Finals 

No. 2 - Argentina 83 Serbia and Montenegro 82,  2004 Olympics

On the opening day of the 2004 Olympics men's basketball tournament in Athens and two years removed from Yugoslavia's OT win over Argentina in the Final of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002 in Indianapolis, Ginobili poured in 27 points, including the last two of the game on an incredible shot at the buzzer. Argentina inbounded the ball with 3.8 seconds left, pushed it quickly up the floor and got the ball to Ginobili, who had just enough time to bank in, while falling down, the winning points from the edge of the lane. It was the most incredible shot of his international career.

No. 3 - Argentina 84 Italy 69, 2004 Olympics Gold Medal Game

On his greatest day as a national team player and in his country's finest moment for more than a half century, Ginobili had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists as the South Americans pulled away from the Azzurri to become Olympic champions for the first time in their history. Ginobili was four of five inside the arc and eight of nine at the free-throw line. The 16 points meant he had reached double digits in points in all of Argentina's victories. His 154 points at the Athens Games were second only to Pau Gasol's 157 for Spain. Ginobili was named MVP of the tournament.

No. 4 - Argentina 80 Greece 78, 2008 Olympic Quarter-Final

In one of Argentina's greatest wins and against a powerhouse Greece team that had stunned the USA at the 2006 World Cup in the Semi-Finals, Ginobili made six three-pointers and finished with 24 points. The performance moved Argentina to within a single win of an Olympic medal.

No. 5 - Argentina 81 Puerto Rico 79, 2011 FIBA AmeriCup Semi-Final

Ginobili made six of nine from deep on his way to 23 points and also dished out seven assists as Argentina edged the Boricuas to reach the Final and qualify for the Olympics. Making the occasion all the more important for Ginobili and his Golden Generation teammates was that they played in front of their own fans in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

No. 6 - Argentina 80 France 70, 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Ginobili, just as he had two years earlier at the Athens Olympics, started the World Cup with a bang by pouring in 25 points and coming up with six steals. He turned Sendei into his own personal playground, even dribbling the ball through the legs of France veteran Laurent Foirest on one fast break. Argentina overcame a very talented France team that had Boris Diaw, Mikael Gelabale, Ronny Turiaf and the Pietrus brothers, Florent and Mikael.

No. 7 - Argentina 87 USA 80, 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Just a few months away from the start of his NBA career in San Antonio, Ginobili made the taste buds of Spurs fans salivate with a team-high 15 points in Argentina's Eighth-Final Round victory over a USA team with 12 NBA players. Ginobili also came up big on defense, blocking two shots and coming up with a steal. The triumph also confirmed for eventual champions Yugoslavia before their Quarter-Final against the USA that the hosts could be beaten.

No. 8 - Argentina 78 Brazil 67, 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup Quarter-Final

Against their great South American rivals, Ginobili had 19 points as Argentina remained on course for the Final. The game was knotted at half-time but Ginobili and Co turned on the style in the second half. Ginobili also had seven rebounds and five assists.

No. 9 - Argentina 112 New Zealand 85, 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Facing the Tall Blacks brought out the best in Ginobili. He exploded for a career-high 24 points in just 19 minutes in the Preliminary Round game. Ginobili played mean defense, too, coming up with a couple of steals. He did foul out in the rout. Argentina grew in confidence as they won for the third time in as many games.

No. 10 - Argentina 111 Venezuela 93, 2011 FIBA AmeriCup

Ginobili had his biggest tally in a FIBA AmeriCup game of 26 points, wreaking havoc all over the court but especially from three-point range. He drilled six of eight attempts from behind the arc and Argentina won their sixth game in as many attempts at the tournament staged in Mar del Plata. Argentina ended up reaching the Final to clinch a spot in the 2012 Olympics and then defeated Brazil to win the title.

FIBA