Manu Ginobili meets San Antonio boy named 'Ginobili' at Spurs game

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SAN ANTONIO — A tiny fan sat courtside at the AT&T Center Monday, watching with wide eyes as gigantic Spurs he'd only seen on TV warmed up for a game against the Utah Jazz.

One player is particularly special to Ginobili Ramirez, who was named after the Spurs vet in 2005. Wearing a No. 20 jersey - like always - the young San Antonio native quietly waited for the chance to meet his favorite player and idol.

"I am excited and nervous at the same time," the 10-year-old said. "I never thought I'd meet him, but I'm going to today."

Like many area kids, Ramirez was grown surrounded by the spirit of the locally loved Spurs. Unlike many area kids, Ginobili Ramirez was named for one of the players.

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Ginobili San Miguel-Ramirez, 10, talks with San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili before the Spurs and Utah Jazz game as his mother Renee San Miguel-Ramirez, 36, (rear from left) sister Georgina San Miguel-Ramirez, 8, and father Jorge Ramirez, 38, look on Monday Dec. 14, 2015 at the AT&T Center. less Ginobili San Miguel-Ramirez, 10, talks with San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili before the Spurs and Utah Jazz game as his mother Renee San Miguel-Ramirez, 36, (rear from left) sister Georgina San Miguel-Ramirez, ... more Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Manu Ginobili meets San Antonio boy named 'Ginobili' at Spurs game 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

On Monday, little Ginobili sat alone in the front row of seats seemingly stunned, waiting to suit up as the Pizza Hut Ball Boy.

Once his namesake approached him before the game, the younger Ginobili cracked an ear to ear smile that continued throughout the pair's 10-minute conversation about school and, of course, basketball.

"I'm very happy to finally meet him, when I first heard about him years ago I was shocked," said Manu Ginobili. "I guess we're going to be linked forever with that name."

The pint-size Ginobili said Manu is the "best player in the league."

"He's a good player, he makes good threes," he said, still reeling from the experience.

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Twitter: @MaddySkye