If you close your eyes and think of Manu Ginobili today, you probably see the bald spot. It became a sort of basketball yarmulke during the latter half of his career with the San Antonio Spurs. It was a badge of honor, really. A symbol of a guy who played so hard and so fast that his follicles simply couldn't keep up with the G-force of his Euro steps.
But for a specific generation of NBA fans, that’s not the "real" Manu.
The real Manu had a mane. Manu Ginobili long hair wasn't just a style choice; it was a vibe that defined the mid-2000s Western Conference. It was jet-black, greasy, and perpetually windswept, even when he was standing still at the free-throw line. When he drove to the rim, that hair followed him like a cape. It was chaotic. It was beautiful. And honestly, it might have been the source of his powers.
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The Era of the Flowing Mane
When Manu arrived in San Antonio in 2002, he was this skinny, mysterious guard from Argentina via Italy. He didn't look like a typical NBA shooting guard. He looked like a guy who might lead a revolution or start a very successful indie rock band.
During the 2003, 2005, and 2007 championship runs, his hair was a character in the story. Paul Pierce actually once said that long-haired Manu was a top-five player in the league. Think about that for a second. It wasn't just about the stats, though those were great. It was the unpredictability.
He’d split a double team, the hair would fly back, and he’d finish a layup that made Gregg Popovich want to pull his own hair out.
Popovich famously struggled with Manu’s "wildness" early on. He’d ask Manu, "Why did you do that?" And Manu would just look at him and say, "I'm Manu, this is what I do." That defiance was perfectly reflected in those long, dark locks. It was the antithesis of the "Spurs Way"—which was usually buzz cuts and fundamental footwork. Manu was the splash of color in a black-and-white movie.
Why did he eventually cut it?
The transition wasn't an overnight thing. It was a slow, painful retreat. As the years ticked by—around 2009 and 2010—the crown of his head started to thin. Most guys in that position would panic. They'd get the plugs (looking at you, LeBron) or wear a headband that kept creeping higher and higher up their forehead.
Manu didn't do that.
He stayed the course until the "bald spot" became the dominant feature. By the 2013-2014 "Redemption" season, the long hair was officially a memory. He pivoted to a buzz cut that eventually morphed into the clean-shaven look he sports today.
The Myth of the Hair Transplant
There’s always talk in the Reddit forums and Twitter (now X) circles about whether Manu ever "fixed" his hair. You’ll see grainy photos from 2017 or post-retirement where he suddenly looks like he has a bit more volume. Some gossip sites even list him alongside Carlos Boozer as a "hair transplant success story."
Honestly? It's mostly bunk.
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Manu has been incredibly self-aware about his balding. In 2017, he tweeted a photo of himself next to a bald eagle with the caption "#baldies." That’s not the energy of a man who’s secretly flying to Turkey for a FUE procedure. He embraced the aging process in a way that’s actually pretty rare for world-class athletes. He let it go.
He once joked that Gregg Popovich used him up "like a bar of soap" until there was nothing left. That included his hair.
Evolution of a Legend
The change from Manu Ginobili long hair to the bald veteran look mirrored his evolution as a player.
- The Long Hair Phase (2002–2008): This was Peak Chaos Manu. He was the Sixth Man of the Year, a human highlight reel, and arguably the most exciting player in the world not named Kobe or LeBron.
- The Thinning Phase (2009–2012): This was Transition Manu. He became more of a facilitator, a leader, and someone who won with his brain as much as his legs.
- The Bald Eagle Phase (2013–2018): This was Sage Manu. The block on James Harden. The 2014 title. The dunks at age 40.
There’s something poetic about it. He started as this wild stallion with a mane and ended as a bald, wise general.
Real stats, real impact
Don't let the hair talk distract you from the reality: Manu was a winner in both formats. He's one of only two players (along with Bill Bradley) to win an NBA title, a EuroLeague title, and an Olympic gold medal.
Whether he had hair or didn't, the Euro step remained lethal. The passing stayed visionary. The competitive fire—the "stud of the world" energy Popovich talked about—never dimmed.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you’re a Spurs fan or a collector, understanding these eras is actually pretty practical.
- Jersey Hunting: If you want a "Long Hair Manu" jersey, you’re looking for the Reebok era or the very early Adidas jerseys (roughly 2002 to 2007). These often have a different fit and fabric than the later Rev 30 or Nike versions.
- Trading Cards: The most valuable Manu cards are often his 2002-03 rookie cards, which show him with the classic short-but-thick hair. However, "in-game" photography on cards from 2005 captures the "flow" better than anything else.
- Memorabilia: Photos signed by Manu with the long hair are becoming increasingly "vintage" and carry a specific nostalgic weight for fans of the Big Three era.
The long hair is gone, and it’s never coming back. Manu is 48 now (as of early 2026), and he’s still out there dunking in his driveway, looking lean and aerodynamic. We’ll always have the highlights of those black locks flying behind him as he carved up the league. It was a hell of a run.