NBA NEWS - MANU GINOBILI WINS 2007-08 NBA SIXTH MAN AWARD - April 2008

Manu Ginobili wins NBA Sixth Man Award - NBA photo

Ginobili received 615 out of a possible 620 points, including 123 of a possible 124 first-place votes, from a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.

NEW YORK,, NY USA - Wednesday April 24, 2008

MANU GINOBILI WINS

Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs is the winner of the NBA Sixth Man Award presented by Kia Motors as the league’s best player in a reserve role for the 2007-08 season, the NBA announced.

Ginobili received 615 out of a possible 620 points, including 123 of a possible 124 first-place votes, from a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns finished second with 283 points and Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks finished third with 44 points. In order to be eligible for this award, players had to have come off the bench in more games than they started. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

As part of its support of the Most Valuable Player Award, Kia Motors will donate a brand-new 2009 Kia Borrego seven-passenger SUV on behalf of Ginobili to Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives of San Antonio which is committed to caring for children in crisis. Each winner of the four year-end awards presented by Kia Motors will receive a Borrego on behalf of the player’s charity of choice.

A sixth man in 51-of-74 games played this season, Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring with a career-high average of 19.5 points to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.47 steals. He increased his scoring nearly 6.0 points over his career average entering this season (13.7 ppg). He is also the only player in the NBA to average at least 17 points in under 32.0 minutes per game. Ginobili is the only player in the NBA ranked in the top 31 for points per game (31st), steals (16th), assists (28th), three-point field goals made (156, 16th), three-point field goal percentage (.401, 28th), free throws made (380, 16th) and free throw percentage (.860, 16th).

2007-08 NBA SIXTH MAN AWARD

Player, ......................Team...............1st.................... 2nd................. 3rd ..............Pts

Manu Ginobili,...........San Antonio.....123 ....................- .......................-............... 615

Leandro Barbosa,.......Phoenix ........... ...1................... 84................... 26 ..............283

Jason Terry, ...............Dallas .................-- .....................9................... 17............... 44

Kyle Korver,..............Utah ....................-- .....................7................... 13............... 34

Ben Gordon,...............Chicago............... --.................... 6 ......................9............... 27

JR Smith, ...................Denver .................--.....................4 ....................10 ...............22

Josh Childress, ...........Atlanta .................--.....................5 ......................8 ...............23

James Posey, .............Boston .................-- .....................3 ....................10 ..............19

Jason Maxiell, ............Detroit ..................--.....................1 ......................8...............11

Travis Outlaw, ...........Portland ................--.....................-- ....................11..............11

ALL-TIME NBA SIXTH MAN AWARD WINNERS

1982-83 -- Bobby Jones, Philadelphia 76ers

1983-84 -- Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

1984-85 -- Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

1985-86 -- Bill Walton, Boston Celtics

1986-87 -- Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks

1987-88 -- Roy Tarpley, Dallas Mavericks

1988-89 -- Eddie Johnson, Phoenix Suns

1989-90 -- Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks

1990-91 -- Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers

1991-92 -- Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers

1992-93 -- Clifford Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers

1993-94 -- Dell Curry, Charlotte Hornets

1994-95 -- Anthony Mason, New York Knicks

1995-96 -- Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls

1996-97 -- John Starks, New York Knicks

1997-98 -- Danny Manning, Phoenix Suns

1998-99 -- Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic

1999-00 -- Rodney Rogers, Phoenix Suns

2000-01 -- Aaron McKie, Philadelphia 76ers

2001-02 -- Corliss Williamson, Detroit Pistons

2002-03 -- Bobby Jackson, Sacramento Kings

2003-04 -- Antawn Jamison, Dallas Mavericks

2004-05 -- Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls

2005-06 -- Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies

2006-07 -- Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns

2007-08 -- Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

(NBA)