Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring, averaging a career-high 19.5 points to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Ginobili came off the bench in 51 of the 74 games he played this season.
“I really don’t care about coming from the bench if that helps the team to win a championship,” Ginobili said.
The Spurs have a 1-0 lead over the Phoenix Suns in their best-of-seven first-round playoff series. Suns guard Leandro Barbosa won the award last year and Ginobili came in second.
Ginobili got 123 of 124 first-place votes for 615 points. Barbosa came in second with 283 points and the Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Terry was third with 44.
“It was no race. Just like, when (is it) going to happen,” said Spurs point guard Tony Parker. “He was our best player all year long.”
The 6-6 was drafted by the Spurs in 1999 in the second round with the 57th overall pick and has been with the team for three of its four title runs.
“That is what I’m going to remember when I retire, the rings I have,” Ginobili said.
