While San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has some big games ahead in the NBA playoffs after the Spurs swept the Utah Jazz last night, he has his sights set on not just a gold-overlayed Larry O’Brien trophy, but also Olympic gold.
Ginobili is part of the “golden generation” in Argentina, including Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni, Fabricio Oberto, Pablo Prigioni and Carlos Delfino. It’s the same group that came up together and finished second in the 2002 World Championships and the same team that beat the United States and won the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics.
This summer’s Olympic games is widely considered their last run together and their last shot at winning another gold medal for Argentina.
But it won’t come easy for the aging group, who will have to face the United States and Spain in Group A.
“The gold medal is very tough, almost a utopia,” Ginobili told The Associated Press (via the Washington Post). “But getting the bronze medal would not be impossible. The United States and Spain are still the favorites. Then comes France and after that there is a pack of four, five or six teams with a chance for bronze. “
With the Spurs expected to make a late playoff run that could land them in the finals and the Olympic after that, it’s looking like a long postseason for Ginobili, but it’ll be worth it if Ginobili finishes off the summer with a fourth championship ring and a second gold medal.
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