Among the new additions to the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster is big man Sandro Mamukelashvili. While some feel he won’t make much of an impact, he had somewhat of a breakout campaign this past season where he started to prove that he’s a fairly well-rounded player.
He averaged 11.2 points on 52.3% field-goal shooting and 38.9% from 3-point range, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes a game as a member of the Toronto Raptors. He was on hand for Saturday’s summer league game between the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks, and he told the California Post how pleased he is to be joining the Purple and Gold.
“Just the name itself — all of the legends play for the Lakers,” Mamukelashvili told The Post of why he signed with the famed team. “The organization is a very high-level organization. They’re starting a new page, and it’s just unbelievable to be part of it.”
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound hybrid 4/5 grew up as a fan of the late great Kobe Bryant, and he said he’s “so exited” and “so happy” to be a member of Bryant’s former team.
“I could only imagine this really in 2K, that I would be playing for this team,” Mamukelashvili said. “I’m so excited, so happy. The coaching staff is amazing, and I can’t wait to just put the jersey on, go out there and just play my heart out every night. You gotta have a chip on your shoulder when you play for the Lakers.”
Mamukelashvili can not only stretch the floor and grab some rebounds. He can also work off the dribble and make passes that continue offensive possessions cohesively. He can even grab defensive rebounds and lead fast breaks.
“They just see me as a basketball player who can go out there, play multiple positions, bring the rhythm,” Mamukelashvili told The Post. “They know I’m gonna play hard; I won’t take possessions off and they understand that I really want to win. That’s where I fit.
“Having players like Luka [Doncic], Austin Reaves — all those guys who are such amazing creators — that’s gonna help me so much offensively, just flow in it and hopefully get a lot of open corner 3s and then just knock them down.”
Ideally, he will be coming off the bench for Los Angeles, but as of now, the team doesn’t have someone who is truly qualified to start ahead of him at the 4 spot. That is why it is in pursuit of forward Jonathan Kuminga, who may take his time in making a decision on whether he wants to come to L.A.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Sandro Mamukelashvili is ‘so happy’ to join the Lakers
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
