Manu Ginobili Wardrobe Malfunction: San Antonio Spurs Star Breaks Shoe During Game Against Pistons
While defending the basket against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night with 36 seconds left to go in the first half, San Antonio Spurs' star shooting guard Manu Ginobili blew out his left shoe in a rare wardrobe malfunction, which went viral and can be seen by CBS's local affiliate in Detroit.
Ginobili was guarding Pistons' shooting guard Rodney Stuckey, when the malfunction occurred. As Ginobili slid across the court to prevent Stuckey from reaching the hoop, his left foot broke through the sole of the shoe and was in need of a quick replacement.
Ginobili and the Spurs would handily defeat the Pistons 120-110 in what started off to be a close match-up at the AT&T Center.
During an ESPN interview after the game, Ginobili told reporters his first-half pair of shoes kept him slow but was hesitant to credit his wardrobe change to his team's victory over the Eastern Conference's ninth placed Pistons.
Ginobili said he felt slow in the first half causing unnecessary turnovers but after returning to the game early in the third quarter he started to get in a grove that was more characteristic of the three-time NBA championship player.
Wednesday's game at home was the 12-year NBA veteran's fourth game back after an eight-game absence because of a tight left hamstring in which he scored 16 points with nine assists, according to NBA's stats report.
The Spurs are currently sitting in second place in the Western Conference with a 41-16 game record, and one-and-a-half games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to the NBA.
Ginobili is certainly no stranger to odd on-court incidents, however, as he also is known for swatting a loose bat during a Spurs' game against the Sacramento Kings on Halloween night in 2009.
According to sports news website SBNation, the incident, which also went viral, resulted in a bit of backlash from the animal rights organization PETA against Ginobili, who needed to receive a rabies vaccination.
Wednesday's game against the Pistons was the Spurs' first home appearance after a nine-game road trip, which ended on a 6-3 run.
The two-time NBA All-Star and 2008 Sixth Man of the Year signed with the Spurs in 2002 after playing for club teams in Argentina and Italy for seven years, is currently averaging a season of 12-points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game.
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