Advertisement - scroll for more content
Sandro Mamukelashvili Rumors
Ryan Wolstat: Fun fact: Sandro Mamukelashvili (going to take a while to learn that one) played with new teammate RJ Barrett at Montverde. Scottie Barnes went to the school after them.
Sandro Mamukelashvili joins Raptors
Shams Charania: Free agent F/C Sandro Mamukelashvili has agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Toronto Raptors, plus a second year player option, sources tell ESPN. George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports negotiated the new deal with the Raptors.
Given what he saw his father endure, Mamukelashvili quickly raised his hand when the Spurs asked for a player to volunteer for a visit to Methodist Children's Hospital to interact with patients in recognition of Child Life Month and to raise awareness about the work of the hospital's child life specialists. "As a kid, a major illness is a really hard thing to go through," Mamukelashvili said Thursday after a morning shootaround in preparation for the game against the Cavaliers later that night. "As basketball players, we can bring smiles to their faces and to their families, kind of give them a little bit of positivity. It's tough for them, especially when you're going through chemotherapy or you've been diagnosed with cancer and have so many thoughts in your head."
Sandro Mamukelashvili first player to score 34 points in fewer than 20 minutes
Bewildered and in a state of disbelief, San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili walked back-and-forth half-dressed near his locker Wednesday night repeating the same words after his team's 120-105 win over the New York Knicks. "I don't know what f---ing happened," Mamukelashvili said. "I don't know what f---ing happened." With good friend and rapper Flavor Flav hyping a crowd of 18,521 that gleefully flooded Frost Bank Center with MVP chants, Mamukelashvili made NBA history by scoring the most points -- a career-high 34 -- in a game when playing fewer than 20 minutes since 1951-52, when minutes became official. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Mamukelashvili said. "I just can't explain how I feel right now. I feel like I'm in a dream. I manifested and prayed for it. I just waited for this day. I really had an out of body experience for a little bit there. I was like, 'Is this really happening?'"
Mamukelashvili didn't play in the third quarter. But in the final frame, he lit up the Knicks for 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range to go with 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Mamukelashvili heated up so much that teammate Chris Paul started calling actions down the stretch to get his teammate more looks. "Luckily, I've played for a while and sort of know the art of getting guys shots," Paul said. "Mamu is an amazing teammate. He comes in and works hard every day, cheers guys on, always in a good mood, good attitude. When he's shooting the ball like that, you just try to find the guy." Mamukelashvili became the fourth player in NBA history to shoot 90% from the field, 100% on 3-pointers and 100% on free throws in a game, joining Tyrese Haliburton (2022), Gary Payton (1995) and Charles Barkley. He also ranks as the third Spur to knock down 7-of-7 or better on 3-pointers, joining Matt Bonner (2010) and Steve Smith (2001).
Advertisement
Paul Garcia: Mamu on Stephon Castle: “Even Steph, he’s a rookie, but he does not act like a rookie. He’s mature, he’s down to earth, very quick learner, great defensive player.” thespotupshot.substack.com/p/training-cam…
Sandro Mamukelashvili badly wanted to return with the Spurs
Sandro Mamukelashvili: "When Pop called me his favorite player towards the end of last season, deep down in my heart, I was like, 'I hope this means I will come back.' But you know it’s business. So much goes on. You have to learn that as soon as you come into the league. People might love you for who you are, but something might change in their view, or something might not go the way they want, so they shift and go in a different direction."
Sandro Mamukelashvili: "Me and Wemby’s bond was created off the court. We both like board games, we’re both competitive, we like stuff like Topgolf. It’s just a European thing. I think the bond was created even stronger when he came to a Georgian restaurant with me in New York. We dove into my culture. I was talking to him about my food, and he loved it. I was just happy he didn’t have any stomach issues because I would have been in trouble."
To Mamukelashvili personally, the contract that brought him back to the Spurs for a third season — and the second alongside budding superstar Victor Wembanyama — was the most important of the summer. “You always want to be bought into something special and be a part of something special,” Mamukelashvili said after a recent workout back in the Spurs’ practice gym. “With Victor being here and adding a couple veterans and some great young guys, it’s something you want to be a part of. It’s constant growth. Nobody’s just sitting laid back. Everybody comes to the gym and works hard. You want to be part of that.”
“One thing about my journey, nothing comes easy,” Mamukelashvili said. “That fighting mentality sticks with me. No matter what situation I’m in, my only thought is to get better. And if I get just a little bit of a chance, I want to show everybody I’m not just happy to be here. I want to keep getting better. I’m going to keep fighting. That’s my spirit.”
Advertisement
Set to become a free agent for the second straight summer, the 25-year-old forward could not be sure what direction his basketball career would take. Sandro Mamukelashvili had a strong preference, however. “My heart loves San Antonio,” Mamukelashvili said. “In my heart, it was ‘Hopefully it works out and I come back.' ”
Mamukelashvili said his second dip into the free agency waters this offseason was less nerve-wracking than the first, in part because this time around he had interest from a few teams outside of San Antonio. “My first free agency, if you saw me you would have thought I was a dead man walking,” Mamukelashvili said. “I was not sleeping. I’m on Twitter like, ‘What’s going on? Just give me a minimum deal, you know?’ ”
“You always want to be bought into something special and be a part of something special,” Mamukelashvili said after a recent workout back in the Spurs’ practice gym. “With Victor being here and adding a couple veterans and some great young guys, it’s something you want to be a part of. It’s constant growth. Nobody’s just sitting laid back. Everybody comes to the gym and works hard. You want to be part of that.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement