NBA player given rabies vaccine

Spurs' Ginobli swats bat in NBA game

San Antonio's Manu Ginobili had to be vaccinated against rabies after catching a bat in a game on Halloween.

He swatted the flying mammal out of the air with his left hand before casually scooping it up off the floor and giving it to an NBA court-side official.

"When you can't dunk anymore, you've got to find some way to make it to the news," said guard Ginobili, who is one of the NBA's top trick-shot artists.

The Spurs, who beat Sacramento 113-94, said the bat was unhurt and flew away.

However, there are conflicting reports about its fate, with some suggesting it died.

Ginobili, 32, claimed he had only stunned the animal but was put on a precautionary course of vaccinations because it was not tested for rabies before it disappeared.

"We asked to see if it was dead," the Argentine stated. "They told me it flew away."

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The bat interrupted the game in the first quarter before Ginobili, who scored 13 points in the victory, intervened.

He added that he has learned something from his ordeal.

"Kids, don't do this at home," he said. "Don't handle bats. Don't swat them. Don't do anything. Or raccoons."

Only a small percentage of bats carry the rabies, which is generally transmitted through a bite - Ginobili was not bitten and has been showing no ill effects.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich commented: "Manu never ceases to amaze me and he just did it again.

"The legend grows. It's incredible on Halloween night. You would call someone a liar if they told you that story."