Sandro Mamukelashvili may be the most intriguing player the Los Angeles Lakers have signed as a free agent so far this summer. He is a 6-foot-9, 240-pound big man who can play both the power forward and center positions, and while he may not have been very familiar to NBA fans until recently, he has started to come into his own over the last year or so.
A second-round draft pick in 2021, he didn’t get much playing time in his first four seasons. But during the 2025-26 season, Mamukelashvili averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes a game while shooting 38.9 minutes a game. He attempted 6.1 3-pointers per 36 minutes a game, and he should help the Lakers improve in that category.
During his first media availability since signing his new four-year, $52 million contract, the 27-year-old talked about playing with Luka Doncic and how he can complement the Lakers’ franchise player.
“He reached out,” Mamukelashvili said. “He said he’s very excited that I’m part of the team and he can’t wait to get to work. I said ‘I’m going to the gym and I’m gonna shoot a million 3s right now, corner 3s, to make sure I’m ready.’ That was literally the conversation and hopefully I can see him more and get to know him more.”
Los Angeles was 14th in 3-point accuracy and 24th in 3-point attempts this past season. In Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and possibly rookie Cameron Carr and even center Walker Kessler, it has more 3-point threats than it did just a few months ago.
That should create more space for Doncic and Austin Reaves to operate and do damage offensively, especially in halfcourt situations.
The only real question regarding Mamukelashvili is whether he will start or come off the bench. The Lakers don’t have a big forward who is truly deserving of starting at the 4, and therefore, Mamukelashvili may be slotted there, at least to start the 2026-27 campaign.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Sandro Mamukelashvili says he will ‘shoot a million 3s’ this summer
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
