Sandro Mamukelashvili Celebrated Signing With Lakers In Perfect Way

Sandro Mamukelashvili was one of the many Los Angeles Lakers’ additions this summer and through three preseason games, he is already showing why. Mamukelashvili finished with 19 points, three rebounds and four assists in the Lakers’ victory over the Sacramento Kings Thursday night and in three games is averaging 14 points and 3.7 assists while shooting 57.1% from both the field and 3-point range.

Like many other players, Mamukelashvili grew up watching the Lakers so actually signing with them was a big deal for the forward. And he celebrated appropriately.

“When the free agency stuff went down I think I kind of blacked out,” Mamukelashvili said after the Lakers’ win. “I didn’t really think of anything I was like, ‘What just happened?’ And we were just running around the parking lot at the Steiner in New Jersey just going crazy. I had the Snoop Dogg song on so it was good.”

The big man would later clarify exactly what he was listening to.

“I was listening to Snoop. I was listening to ‘Purp and Yellow,’ so it was cool. I haven’t been with him. I would go if he told me to come, but I haven’t.”

While Mamukelashvili celebrated properly once his deal with the Lakers was agreed to, he quickly turned the page and began preparing for what he envisioned his role to be alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

“So I didn’t do too much thinking back then, but of course then you start watching film trying to see how you fit in and it’s amazing,” he noted. “I kind of envisioned myself like, just as I said, they have so much gravity Luka, and I just imagined myself being open and making sure I knock down my 3s or get the ball and push. Because a lot of times Luka and Austin are denied.

“And also just making sure I’m the connector. Like if we gotta play delay, if it’s a small ball five I play the delay, I kind of make right reads and if not then I just kind of complement them as much as possible. But I also want to just work on my rebounding and defensively I just want to be a guy you can trust. I don’t want to be a liability and I’m working on that, watching a lot of film and just gotta work on that.”

Mamukelashvili’s offensive skills have been on full display and there is no doubt that he will help to elevate this Lakers offense any time he is on the court. Hie rebounding and defense will need to be more consistent, especially if he is playing that small ball center spot, but he is already putting in the work to alleviate those issues and give this team exactly what it needs.

Austin Reaves ‘excited’ but emphasizes need for Lakers to continue building chemistry

Reaves made his preseason debut for the Lakers in Wednesday’s victory, totaling eight points, five rebounds and eight assists in 25 minutes. And while he is excited about what the Lakers are building, he understands the need for them to continue growing as a team.