Nike Basketball News

The Competition: Manu Ginobili

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:49:06 GMT

In 2004, Manu Ginobili became an icon by leading Argentina to their first basketball gold medal. Can he do it again four years later?

It all goes back to Bahia Blanca, Argentina. That’s where Emanuel Ginobili first learned the game, starting on his quest to become his country’s greatest basketball player of all time.

Basketball was all around Manu from an early age. His father was a coach, and his brothers played in the pros. With such tough competition under one roof, Manu developed quickly and earned a spot with his local ball club. After a few years there, he headed to Europe to improve his game against tougher international competition.

In Italy, he quickly proved himself one of the top players in Europe. His deadly outside shot, combined with a fearless first step, made him almost impossible to guard. He drove the lane with abandon and backed down from no one.

San Antonio was so impressed by what they saw that they drafted him in 1999. But he had other things to do first; only after three more seasons in Europe, the 2001 Italian Championship, two Italian Cups, three All-Star appearances and the Italian and Euroleague MVP awards, did he finally join the Spurs.

Once in San Antonio, he quickly developed a reputation in the NBA as a clutch player. In the 2003 Playoffs, his work off the bench helped the Spurs win the championship. And the 2004-05 season gave him another opportunity to catch fire, where he earned an All-Star slot and went on to average 20.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the postseason. After two more NBA championships in 2005 and 2007, he was awarded the 6th Man of the Year title in 2008.

But of all his awards and titles, none rallied his people as much as the gold medal he won in Athens. It was during the 2004 Summer Games that he cemented his place in the hearts of Argentineans. On opening day of the Games, Manu lit up the tournament by hitting a buzzer beater to defeat Serbia, and the crowd went wild.

But it wasn’t until Argentina faced Team USA in the semifinals that he truly shone, where the world saw him produce one of his finest games on any stage. Behind by 29 points, Argentina came back to defeat the Americans 89-81 in an epic encounter, giving Team USA their third loss in history. Days later, Manu and his team defeated Italy, giving them the gold. The tournament was not only Argentina’s finest achievement, it was Manu’s as well; he scored over 19 points a game and walked away with the MVP award.

Almost overnight, Manu had become a national hero, eager to return to the place it all began.

"I want to cry and at the same time I want to laugh. I can't wait to go back to Argentina and see the joy on the face of our people," said Ginobili.

The 2008 Summer Games in Beijing will be a tougher challenge for Argentina. No longer the underdog, every strong team is out to dethrone the champs – Team USA especially. In Beijing, Manu will face some of his greatest American rivals, all out for blood. But he and his fellow Argentineans are ready to fight, to prove that their win was no fluke, and to do it all again in 2008.

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The Competition: Pau Gasol

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:48:11 GMT

In 2006, behind the strength of Pau Gasol, Spain shook up the world. Can he do it again in ’08?

Since joining the international basketball federation, Spain has been a dominant force in the European game. With sixteen appearances in the Eurobasket tournament and 8 medals, they’ve easily proven themselves against their European counterparts. But when faced with the rest of the world, Spain has often struggled to keep up.

After a string of defeats on the world stage, it became painfully clear that the team was in need of a strong leader. They needed someone to unite them both on and off the court. Someone who could give hope not only to the players themselves, but to a country in need of a savior.

And when that savior showed up, he came in the form of Pau Gasol.

At the 2004 Games, Pau was introduced to the world in a big way. The leader of a new generation of Spanish superstars, his game was revolutionary. The 7-footer moved like a small forward, played with either hand and could knock down open jumpers. And he’d already racked up medals for his country in the Junior European, Junior World, European and FIBA World championships. With his record of success, Spain was all but guaranteed a medal.

But that year, despite his country’s high hopes, the team was faced with too many obstacles. The Spaniards finished a distant 7th out of 12 teams in the tournament.

It wasn’t until the 2006 FIBA World Championships that Spain – and Pau Gasol – were given a second chance.

Right from the start of the tournament, Pau set the tone, averaging 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. Spain bulleted through the competition, and in the most memorable game of the series, they faced Argentina – the world champs – in the semifinals.

With a minute left in the game, Pau fractured a bone in his foot. It was a shock to the team, but they were able to recover quickly, holding on to win 75-74. Shortly after, despite losing their leader, Spain went on to beat European rival Greece to become the World Champions.

Pau was awarded the MVP trophy for the tournament.

"My teammates today played an amazing game," Pau said. "They played with their hearts and together as a unit. It's no fun to watch. I thought I would suffer some more, but I am so happy to see the way they responded without me being there."

This summer, as Spain gears up to defend its title, all hope is resting on Pau’s shoulders. But if his first season with Los Angeles is anything to judge by, he’s never been more ready.

After being traded mid-season to L.A., Pau ignited the renaissance that took a controversial L.A. team from the middle of the pack to the top. He was the perfect fit for a roster that needed a quality, consistent low-post player to step into the number two scoring position. When he wasn’t getting clutch rebounds and easy buckets down low, he was capitalizing on an amazing chemistry with Kobe that resulted in huge points.

Without Pau, the Lakers may never have made the Finals.

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The Competition: Dirk Nowitzki

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:36:56 GMT

Dirk Nowitzki fought to put German basketball on the map. This year, he’s fighting for something else: the chance to put his team at the top of the winner’s podium.

Dirk Nowitzki is the standard by which all German players are measured. He’s revolutionized the role of the big man, with power on the inside and the magic touch from way outside. He’s reached heights in basketball that few players, German or otherwise, have attained. But for all of the success he’s had professionally, he’s yet to get his hands on international gold.

As a teen, Dirk developed his game in relative obscurity, playing for the German ball club DJK Wurzburg. Over the next few years, he became a young star on the team, winning the German Basketballer of the Year award. He had a big year in 1996 when he headlined the German Under-22 National Team, German National Junior Team, European Junior Select Team and the World Junior Team.

He later participated in several Nike tournaments and exhibitions, putting his talents on display for colleges and scouts for the first time. Dirk got the opportunity to go one-on-one with the legendary Charles Barkley, dunking over the top of the future Hall of Famer. His Nike Hoops Summit performance sent a buzz through universities and pro teams across Europe and in the U.S.

Soon, against all odds, this determined young German found himself joining the ranks of the NBA.

His rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks was a difficult one, as he battled against veteran players in a new arena. But each summer, determined as always, he continued to develop his skills in the German league. He made his senior national team debut at the FIBA European championships in 1999, leading the team in scoring and cementing his place as the team’s star. But even with his amazing game, Germany faltered and missed out on qualifying for the 2000 Summer Games.

After bringing his NBA averages up to 23.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, Dirk’s persistence began to pay off for the Germans at the 2002 World Championships. Behind his 24 points per game, he led the tournament in scoring, taking home the MVP award and the bronze medal. But for Dirk, third place wasn’t enough. And two years later, he would again miss his shot at the gold, hampered by a foot injury in Germany’s qualifying campaign for the 2004 Summer Games.

Now, four years later, Germany is fighting for another chance. They still face a tough battle in Athens this summer against Greece, Croatia, Puerto Rico and Brazil for the remaining spots in Beijing.

He’s broken franchise records, earned All-Star appearances and become the first European-born player to win the MVP award. Dirk has single-handedly blazed the trail for German and European players in the NBA. Yet, for all his professional success, he hasn’t yet led Germany to the gold.

In the prime of his career, he has the power to change that fact. The time is now.

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The Competition: Andrei Kirilenko

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:35:59 GMT

When the Soviet Union collapsed, its basketball team went with it. But now, seventeen years later, Andrei Kirilenko is leading the Russian revival.

For decades, the U.S.S.R. posed a major threat to the United States, both on and off the court. It was a rivalry full of controversy (’72), boycotts (’80 and ’84) and hard-fought games all around. But when the Iron Curtain came down in the early ’90s, the Soviet Empire broke apart, putting an abrupt end to Russia’s glory days in basketball.

From the ashes of Communism arose a new Russian team, assembled with the hope of rekindling former glory. But it soon became clear that they were a mere shadow of the 1972 and 1988 gold medal teams, even failing to qualify for the Games in '92 and '96. They showed a glimmer of promise during the '94 and '98 FIBA World Championships, coming home with the silver – but again, they struggled to stage a comeback, finishing 8th at the 2000 Games and missing out on the 2004 altogether.

Recently, however, Russia has experienced a revival. Led by Andrei Kirilenko, known as AK-47, the 2007 Russian National Team beat defending world champs Spain by just one point, winning the Eurobasket tournament in the most dramatic way possible. Kirilenko’s stifling defense shut down the top offensive players across all opposing teams, earning him the MVP award.

The mighty Russia was back.

After dominating the Russian leagues and European tournaments, Andrei was picked up by Utah in the first round of the 1999 NBA Draft. At just 18 years and four months, he was the youngest European player ever drafted. Since joining the Jazz, he‘s made the All-Rookie team, three consecutive All-Defensive teams, and has been an All-Star.

During this year's playoffs, Andrei went head-to-head with the Lakers in a six-game war for the West. His defense was the key to containing Kobe, giving the Jazz an opportunity to win two clutch home court games. And though they couldn’t pull out the victory and move to the Finals, Kirilenko proved himself against the man commonly known as the best player in the world.

It’s been 20 years since his national team tasted gold at the Summer Games. This summer, AK-47 will have a chance to square off once again with the world's best. The Russian basketball renaissance is finally underway – and Kirilenko is leading the charge.

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The Competition: Yi Jianlian

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:31:53 GMT

For the host nation of China, the return of a healthy Yi Jianlian could mean their first ever medal in Olympic basketball.

To the Chinese, 8 is more than just a number. It represents luck. It brings prosperity. But when the Olympics kick off on 8.8.08, if China wants to win its first ever medal in basketball, they’ll need more than a number. They’ll need a healthy Yi Jianlian to play his best basketball.

Ever since he was young, Yi has made a name for himself on the court. At 16, he towered over his opponents, finding little competition in his hometown. But with his level of skill and quickness, he was soon invited to the United States to play in a summer tournament. He shined against the elite youth in America, gaining some early buzz, and when he returned to China, he moved up to the professional level in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

In his first season, he dominated the court with lightning quick moves and power in the paint, earning him the Rookie of the Year award. Five seasons straight he led his team to the finals, to championship wins in '04, '05 and '06, also earning the MVP award along the way.

Simply put, he was the best player in China.

Despite being only 17, his coaches knew he was ready for the Chinese Senior National Team. Yi got his first taste of senior international competition at the 2004 Summer Games. The young team made the quarterfinals, but lost by 20 to a strong Lithuanian squad.

In 2006, he played at the FIBA World Championships, averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds a game. But unable to carry his team, China fell early to Greece and took 15th place in the tournament.

But even after those tough losses, the NBA spotted young, raw talent and came knocking. His combination of height (7’0), skill and potential was too good to pass up, and in the 2007 Draft, Milwaukee made him the 6th overall pick.

As a rookie, Yi quickly made his mark. He started in the season’s opening game, and in December scored a career-high 29 points over Charlotte. He was named Rookie of the Month shortly after, and played in the Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend.

But in early April, Yi’s rookie season was put to an abrupt halt, ending with a devastating knee injury. There’s no guarantee he’ll be 100% by 8.8.08, but he recently ran in the torch ceremony and performed well in exhibition games, so things are looking good for his countrymen. For China to have a chance to win a medal, they’ll need to have a healthy Yi to go up against power forwards like Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Amare Stoudemire.

The eyes of the world will be on China in August. And when their national team hits the court, the hopes of over a billion Chinese people will be with him. With a little luck and a lot of Yi, China might just be a contender for gold.

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