There has been constant speculation in San Antonio that this NBA season will be Manu Ginobili's last. His former coach, Ettore Messina, said the opportunity to escort the Argentinian dynamo to the finish line was one of the main reasons why he joined Gregg Popovich's coaching staff in 2014.

Messina was the head coach of Kinder Bologna in the top Italian league from 1997 to 2002. He signed the then 21-year old Ginobili after the young hoopster played one season for Viola Reggio Calabria, a lower-division team.

"He was an incredible athlete, flying and jumping all over the place, making unbelievable plays," the Italian coach told New York Times.

Messina's initial plan was to use Ginobili as a backup shooting guard for the club's Serbian star Sasha Danilovic. Troubled with recurring injuries and indifference, Danilovic decided to retire in 2000. Needless to say, the vacancy greatly advanced Ginobili's blossoming career. He went on to make a champion out of Messina and helped Kinder Bolognia amass multiple Euroleague titles in a span of two years.

By the fall of 2002, Ginobili had emphatically introduced himself to the North American audience at the FIBA world championships in Indiana. Messina told an American reporter in Italy that the world hadn't seen anything yet from the 57th pick of the 1999 NBA draft.

Messina described how Ginobili would change the culture in San Antonio by lighting a fire under the methodical Spurs and Tim Duncan.

Ginobili's impact wasn't immediate, but things started to bode well for the Spurs when the Argentinian got a tempo-pushing partner in French point guard Tony Parker. Four champions later, Ginobili's NBA success and international legacy affirm Messina as somewhat of a talent-evaluating prophet.

Now working with Greg Popovich in what could be Manu's last year as a San Antonio Spur, Messina admitted that his once lanky recruit had exceeded his early expectations.

"He's overachieved," said Messina. "I mean, I knew he had special talent. But as much as I love him and trust him, I could not even imagine that he could become a Hall of Famer."

According to ESPN, Ginobili enters this week averaging one steal, four assists and 1.3 three-pointers per game. At this stage of his career, the 38-year old is one of the most underrated fantasy players in the NBA. He won't wow anyone like he used to, but his court awareness, pinpoint passing and ageless clutch play make him a key contributor in the Spurs' offense.

Ginobili and the Spurs will be at home when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers this Thursday, Jan. 14.