San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili won’t take LeBron James for granted

One of the most beloved players in San Antonio Spurs history, Manu Ginobili took to Twitter to make sure we’re not letting LeBron’s career slip past us.

Real recognize real, right? San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili went to war against the great LeBron James on numerous occasions including three battles in the NBA Finals. For as painful as the 2013 NBA Finals were for San Antonio Spurs fans, this team came out victorious just a year later to affirm a 2-1 record against LeBron in the NBA Finals.

When you go up against someone that many times with the highest stakes possible, your view can be skewed one of two ways: To disdain or to respect. Obviously, in the relationship between LeBron and the San Antonio Spurs, respect won out. After LeBron’s performance in Game Five to send the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals, Ginobili found himself in awe.

The Spurs great hopped on his Twitter account to make sure we all recognized the greatness we witnessed in LeBron’s closeout performance.

How many all-time great NBA figures can be identified by their first name alone? The list is limited, but LeBron and Manu are two names that stand out from the rest. The NBA’s runner-up for the MVP award tallied 38 points on 15-for-25 shooting and 7-of-8 free-throw shooting in the contest. The aspect we truly take for granted, as Manu insinuated, is the overall impact on the game.

During that matchup, LeBron tallied a team-high 16 rebounds with a group that features Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard. That competitive drive wills LeBron to make an impact in every facet of the game in an unrelenting quest for that GOAT title. Not to mention the fact that he triple-doubled with 10 assists as well. Leading an elimination game in points, rebounds and assists while guarding some of the best players on the opposing team is something only a handful of players in NBA history could accomplish.

Sometimes, you have to sit back and appreciate greatness. San Antonio Spurs fans are never going to root for a Los Angeles Lakers team — No one outside of their fanbase will! However, the fact that LeBron is nearly 36 still producing at this level is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

In the wake of all of the tragedy suffered during the course of this season, LeBron won’t give in.

You have to respect his effort — No matter where you view him in the All-Time standings.