Sandro Mamukelashvili Grew Up Watching Lakers & Kobe Bryant

Playing on a big stage is not for everyone, especially for a team like the Los Angeles Lakers, and there are nine new players this season looking to make a name for themselves. Sandro Mamukelashvili is one of those is he is coming off a career year with the Toronto Raptors and is now looking to translate it to a team aspiring for championships.

As an international player, Mamukelashvili revealed he watched plenty of Lakers games growing up when Kobe Bryant was playing and he looks forward to taking advantage of this opportunity playing for the team he idolized.

“Growing up, I really respected Kobe as a player, as a mentor. Like, I didn’t know—I wish I did—but, always read his interviews, always watched his videos, always kind of tapped into his mentality and understanding there is no plan B, there’s only plan A, you got to execute until kind of there is no more nothing you can do. And he’s an amazing player,” Mamukelashvili said at Lakers Media Day. “The Lakers organization, I think it’s the biggest organization in the world when it comes to basketball. And even in Georgia, where I could rarely find an NBA game on TV, like you would only see Lakers games.

“So, growing up, I was a big fan. I was a big fan of Kobe, and I think that’s what influenced me to get this tattoo, because I really work hard, and I think Mamba Mentality is important in this sport, and dedication, passion, everything that comes with it. And I love being a Laker, and I’m really excited. Hopefully, I can put this jersey on a lot more this year.”

With an entirely new team, the Lakers face plenty of challenges ahead, but Mamukelashvili brings plenty of offensive utility. Head coach JJ Redick loves to have multi-faceted players, which can open up the offense and L.A. projects to rank high in that category.

Everybody knows what comes with wearing a Lakers jersey and Mamukelashvili understands the opportunity that lies ahead. Championship ties run deep in Los Angeles, and entering this new era with Luka Doncic at the helm, hopefully they continue this winning history.

Sandro Mamukelashvili discusses difference in role playing forward or center

While Mamukelashvili brings offensive versatility, his role remains up in the air in terms of what position he will play. Despite mainly being a power forward, he can play small-ball center with his ability to space the floor.

When asked about the differences at the four or five, Mamukelashvili was candid about how he operates as a player in those two roles.