Lakers Fans Fired Up About Sandro Mamukelashvili After Impressive Display At FIBA Qualifiers vs. Montenegro
· Yahoo Sports
Sandro Mamukelashvili is currently one of several NBA players on international duty for the second round of the FIBA Qualifiers this week. The Lakers’ new addition pulled off an impressive performance in Georgia’s 101-74 win over Montenegro.
The Georgian power forward stuffed the box score as he finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while shooting 6-13 from the field (46.2 FG%) and 2-5 from behind the three-point line (40.0 3P%).
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The Lakers fans were fired up to see Mamukelashvili’s impressive display, which included elite vision and playmaking. After seeing the newest Lakers player’s performance, they took to social media and flooded it with praise for the 27-year-old.
“The Lakers really got a center version of Luka Doncic 😭🔥”
“Bro is basically Luka in a center’s body 😭🔥 The Lakers found a cheat code! 🏀💀”
“Mamu with a crazy no-look dime to find his teammate for a dunk 🤯”
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE WHEN MAMU AND GOGA ARE ON THE COURT ❤️🇬🇪 #FIBAWC x @Mamukelashvili5@GogaBiitadzepic.twitter.com/7GwWIz7hAK
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 28, 2026
He didn’t just impress the Lakers’ fans with his playmaking, but also with his tough finishes inside the paint on transition.
“That’s a grown-a** man right there, gaddamn.”
“This is how you attack a play.”
“Steal of the summer.”
“My backup tweener big can dribble, pass, shoot, and he’s a demon transition scorer with a three ball 💕 I actually can’t wait to watch him this year.”
MAMU ABSORBS THE CONTACT FROM TWO DEFENDERS AND HITS THE AND-1 AS HE FALLS TO THE GROUND 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yEz58uuN6a
— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) August 28, 2026
In 2025-26, Mamukelashvili ended the season averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from the three-point range for the Raptors in a limited role.
It was initially expected that the Lakers would play him at power forward to replace Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup. However, given the Lakers’ lack of offseason moves, he is also expected to play backup center behind Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney.
The 6’9″ forward is a perfect player to run a potential small-ball lineup to space the floor and provide an outside shooting threat instead of clogging the paint. That will give a lot more room for slashers to cut inside the paint for a lob threat that Luka Doncic is known to capitalize on.
The Lakers supporters now have even more reason to be thrilled about Mamukelashvili’s arrival thanks to his outstanding performance for Georgia. He may be one of the roster’s versatile players due to his size, shooting, playmaking, and ability to finish through contact. His skill set offers the Lakers valuable lineup flexibility, especially when paired with Luka Doncic, even though his exact role is still unknown.
Mamukelashvili could easily become a fan favorite and give Los Angeles a special offensive weapon that can make an impact at several positions if he can maintain this confidence throughout the NBA season.