Latest news with #SandroMamukelashvili
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
San Antonio Spurs Predicted to Bring Back Fan-Favorite This Offseason
The San Antonio Spurs have ten players already signed for next season, and most of them (if not all) complement Victor Wembanyama very well, and no one is on a bad contract. Their biggest needs this offseason will be a Chris Paul replacement, assuming he signs elsewhere, as well as a backup center, which could be found in the draft if the Spurs select Derik Queen or Khaman Maluach. Advertisement On a budget deal, the Spurs are predicted to bring back fan-favorite Sandro Mamukelashvili. "Sandro Mamukelashvili seems most likely to return," wrote Spotrac's Keith Smith. "He's been effective as a backup big, despite inconsistent minutes. Charles Bassey and Bismack Biyombo could come back, but they'd be on veteran minimum deals for frontcourt depth. Same with Jordan McLaughlin in the backcourt. Keep an eye on new two-way deals for Harrison Ingram and Riley Minix. Ingram shot poorly in the G League, but did enough else to get another year. Minix showed a ton of potential before suffering a season-ending injury on January 1." The Georgian big man averaged only 6.3 points and 3.1 rebounds this season, although he continued to show promise as the season went on and his minutes increased. Advertisement In a win over the New York Knicks, he scored 34 points and grabbed nine rebounds, missing only a single shot. After the game, he was joined by personal friend Flavor Flav, much to the delight of fans and his teammates. The Spurs will continue to use "Mamu" as a backup option behind Wembanyama, although on a low-budget deal, it makes sense to have him as a depth piece. He's made it clear he wants to stay in San Antonio, as well. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Mock Trade Reunites San Antonio Spurs With NBA Champion Next to Victor Wembanyama Related: San Antonio Spurs Linked to Elite Playmaker in NBA Offseason Prediction
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA East playoff preview capsules: Celtics-Magic, Knicks-Pistons, Pacers-Bucks
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero celebrates after making a shot and drawing a foul during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) celebrates after scoring the winning basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson reacts after sinking a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday, April 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla calls to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, passes the ball as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, passes the ball as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero celebrates after making a shot and drawing a foul during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) celebrates after scoring the winning basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson reacts after sinking a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday, April 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla calls to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, passes the ball as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 4, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) Capsules on the Eastern Conference first-round series: No. 2 Boston Celtics (61-21) vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic (41-41) Season series: Magic, 2-1. Story line: For starters, there's the obvious clash of styles. The Celtics made more 3-pointers and attempted more 3-pointers this season than any team in NBA history. The Magic led the league in terms of fewest 3-pointers made and 3-pointers allowed this season. Do not expect a series filled with 120-115 shootouts; the Magic gave up the fewest points in the NBA, the Celtics gave up the second-fewest. The season series was odd; Orlando won a close game Dec. 23 and enjoyed a blowout win in the final week of the regular season when Boston was sitting everyone. Advertisement Key matchup: Jayson Tatum vs. Paolo Banchero. The former Duke forwards are good friends — that won't matter for the next week or two, Tatum insists — and it's easy to see some similarities in the way they play. If Banchero is making 3s, Orlando is much tougher to beat. Tatum, only 27, is ninth among active players in playoff scoring. Prediction: Celtics in 6. No. 3 New York Knicks (51-31) vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons (44-38) Season series: Pistons, 3-1. Story line: The Pistons' reward for one of the best turnarounds from one season to the next in NBA history is a trip to Madison Square Garden to begin a their first playoff series since 2019. Detroit improved by 30 wins after going 14-68 in 2023-24. Now they have a chance to end the longest losing streak in postseason history, as the Pistons dropped 14 straight games since their last victory in the 2008 Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks, meanwhile, will reach the second round for the third straight season if they win this series. Advertisement Key matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Cade Cunningham. The All-Star point guards are both masters at playing at their own pace. The difference is the Knicks boast the one who is a proven postseason performer, as last year Brunson became the first player since Michael Jordan to have four straight 40-point games in the postseason. Prediction: Knicks in 6. No. 4 Indiana Pacers (50-32) vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks (48-34) Season series: Bucks, 3-1. Story line: A rematch of a first-round series from a year ago, when the Pacers knocked off a No. 3-seeded Bucks team that was hobbled to begin their run to the Eastern Conference finals. Indiana followed that up by winning 50 games for the first time since 2013-14, also the last time the Pacers opened a playoff series in Indianapolis. Still, the Bucks feel good about where they're at after winning their final eight games of the regular season and clearing Damian Lillard for full basketball activity and a potential return during this series, after he missed the last month with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. Advertisement Key matchup: Pascal Siakam vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Siakam was Indiana's most effective player against Milwaukee during the regular season, averaging 24 points on 55% shooting. Antetokounmpo averaged 30 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists against the Pacers, not far from his season averages of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists, which all placed in the top 13 of the league. Prediction: Bucks in 6. ___ AP NBA:
Miami Herald
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Raptors, Spurs hope to build momentum for next season
The San Antonio Spurs and visiting Toronto Raptors hope to end disappointing campaigns on a winning note when they square off Sunday on the final day of the NBA's regular season. Neither the Raptors (30-51) nor Spurs (33-48) will participate in the postseason. Toronto will miss the playoffs for the third straight year -- and fourth in the past five seasons -- while the Spurs have not reached the postseason since 2019. San Antonio returns home after a 117-98 loss in Phoenix on Friday in which the Spurs led early, faltered in the second quarter and were all but lapped in the third, when they trailed by as many as 31 points. Julian Champagnie led San Antonio with 23 points while Sandro Mamukelashvili added 19 off the bench. Teammate Stephon Castle, the top candidate for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, racked up 16 points and 10 assists. "Some of our young guys took awhile to settle into the game," Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said afterward. "Obviously we've got a lot of bumps and bruises and it was a bit of funky lineup, so that's part of it." San Antonio, which has been without star center Victor Wembanyama since Feb. 19 and De'Aaron Fox for the final month because of injuries, also sat key players Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan for Friday's game. Vassell and Johnson are likely to play on Sunday in the finale. Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul played 14 minutes for the Spurs on Friday and, along with Champagnie, will appear in all 82 games for the Spurs if they take the court -- as expected -- on Sunday. The loss to Phoenix assured San Antonio that it would carry the eighth-best odds into the NBA draft lottery, which includes a 26.3 percent chance of a top-four pick and a 6 percent chance of the top overall choice. The Raptors head to San Antonio on the heels of a 124-102 loss in Dallas on Friday. Toronto, which had a two-game winning streak snapped, trailed by 28 points at halftime, by 38 in the third and never got closer than 22 in the final period while playing with just a seven-man rotation. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Ochai Agbaji added 24 points on 6-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. Toronto started its 39th different group of five for the season, the most in the team's 30-year history. The Raptors have been in rebuilding mode the whole year and see plenty of signs that they are on the right track. "They're really invested into each other," coach Darko Rajakovic said. "They're spending a lot of time off the court together, same generation, all of the guys, like more or less the same age, the same interests, playing video games together and all of this stuff. "So, you know, it starts with that, but also, the guys are very coachable. They keep each other accountable." The Spurs took the other meeting between the teams this season, 123-89 in Toronto on March 23. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch Spurs big man Sandro Mamukelashvili set record with 34 points in 19 minutes
I don't know which is more improbable: That Spurs big man Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 34 points in less than 20 minutes, setting an NBA record, or that he is good friends with legendary rapper Flavor Flav. We have video evidence of both. New York native Mamukelashvili shot 7-of-7 from 3 and put up 34 points on the Knicks to spark a 120-105 San Antonio upset. After the game, Flavor Flav crashed his postgame interview. Flavor Flav crashed Mamu's on-court interview after a career night! Incredible. — NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2025 That's some March Madness for you. This was an ugly loss for the Knicks, who just look worn down from the road and continue to struggle to generate offense without Jalen Brunson (sprained ankle). That said, New York is pretty solidly locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, so the loss doesn't hurt much in the standings.
Forbes
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Sandro Mamukelashvili Is Proving His Talent, And We Should Take Note
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks ... More during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on February 25, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) The San Antonio Spurs may have lost both Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox for the rest of the season, but that doesn't mean they don't have weapons. Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 34 in Wednesday's win over the New York Knicks, and did so in just 19 minutes, thus becoming the first-ever player to score that many points in under 20 played minutes. To those who have tracked Mamukelashvili's career, this isn't much of a surprise. The 6'11 big man is loaded with skills, and has generally been underutilized for much of his career. Not only is a he a good three-point shooter, evident by his 7-for-7 performance against the Knicks, and his near-44% accuracy for the year, but he's also a big, physical rebounder, an effective inside scorer (83.3 FG% near the rim), and he can pass on the move, which is saying something for a guy who's 250 pounds. Mamukelashvili has long had good chemistry with Wembanyama, but the Spurs have opted to primarily pair their franchise player with Jeremy Sochan, and Harrison Barnes in the front court. That makes some sense given that both are generally viewed more favorably in terms of experience and impact, but it does feel like a bit of a wasted opportunity to not explore the Mamukelashvili/Wembanyama pairing more. Mamukelashvili will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, just as he was last year. The big man actively wanted to return to San Antonio a season ago, so it'll be interesting if both he and the Spurs are keen on continuing the relationship. The low minutes total for Mamukelashvili - 430 this season, which follows 451 last year - will surely impact his potential earnings this summer, as teams will justifiably wish to see more before they commit to a significant pay day. As such, the remainder of this season becomes incredibly important to Mamukelashvili, if he wishes to cash in on a new, and bigger deal. However, minutes and opportunity should be the main priority, by far. If the Spurs are open to playing him more, then re-signing on a modest deal would be fine, as that could lead to increased compensation down the line. If, however, another situation proves more intriguing, in which the Georgian is promised a bigger role, that's what he should follow. Regardless of his future, one thing remains a constant. The skill set he offers, and the potential he sports, both deserve to be further explored. Unless noted otherwise, all stats via PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
