​Among the newly added players to the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster is big man Sandro Mamukelashvili. While some observers doubt the impact he’ll have, he enjoyed something of a breakout season last year, showing that he can be a versatile and well-rounded contributor. While with the Toronto Raptors, he averaged 11.2 points on 52.3 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent from three, along with 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.9 minutes per game. Mamukelashvili was present for Saturday’s summer league matchup between the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks, and he spoke to the California Post about how thrilled he is to join the Purple and Gold.
“Just the name itself—everyone who’s legends has played for the Lakers,” Mamukelashvili told The Post about why he signed with the storied franchise. “The organization is a very high-level organization. They’re starting a new chapter, and it’s simply incredible to be a part of it.” The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward/center, who operates as a hybrid 4/5, grew up a fan of the late Kobe Bryant and said he’s “so excited” and “so happy” to be part of Bryant’s old 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 play with heart every night. You have to carry a chip on your shoulder when you play for the Lakers.”
Mamukelashvili can do more than stretch the floor and haul in boards. He’s capable off the dribble, can make passes that sustain offensive possessions, and can also grab defensive rebounds to start fast breaks. “They just see me as a basketball player who can go out there, play multiple positions, bring the rhythm,” he told The Post. “They know I’ll play hard; I won’t take possessions off, and they understand that I genuinely want to win. That’s where I fit.” He added that playing with creators like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves should help him offensively, allowing him to operate with relative ease and ideally find himself with plenty of open corner threes to knocking them down.
Ideally, Mamukelashvili would come off the bench for Los Angeles, but at the moment the Lakers don’t have a clear-cut starter for the 4 spot, which has them pursuing forward Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga’s decision on joining L.A. may take some time. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire, highlighting Mamukelashvili’s enthusiasm about joining the Lakers and his outlook for contributing to the team’s success.