LOS ANGELES — After popping out to the 3-point line following a ballscreen, Sandro Mamukelashvili caught the ball at the prime of the key. As Kings middle Maxime Raynaud ran to close out, the 6-foot-10 Mamukelashvili dribbled to the proper, then put the ball between his legs before making a step back 3-pointer.
On the very next possession, Bronny James drove by his man and swung the ball to Mamukelashvili in the nook for another 3-pointer.
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Cash.
The sequence breathed some much-needed life into the Crypto.com Arena crowd, and the Georgian middle launched himself to the Lakers trustworthy. He completed the night time with 19 factors, three rebounds and 4 assists off the bench on 7-of-10 taking pictures from the area, serving to the Lakers to a 114-110 win over Sacramento on Thursday.
Mamukelashvili signed a four-year, $52 million deal this offseason and brings a distinctive skillset the Lakers have not fairly had at his place for a while. He’s the final connector. A ahead, historically, succesful of scaling up and down on protection and dribbling, passing and taking pictures on offense.
“I’m a basketball player,” Mamukelashvili said after Thursday’s win. “To be honest, wherever you put me, I’ll try to do my best.”
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That’s precisely what he’s performed. Through three preseason video games, and with Walker Kessler yet to make his debut, he’s had to play backup middle, beginning middle and has spent some time at the 4 next to Kevon Looney. He’s averaged 14 factors and 3.7 assists in 19.4 minutes per recreation on 57.1/57.1/100 taking pictures splits.
“I thought [Mamukelashvili] was great today,” said Austin Reaves, who made his preseason debut Thursday after lacking the first two video games due to a tweaked ankle. “We just got to keep giving him confidence to be himself. He’s really good offensively and communicates defensively, but we need him to be himself. He doesn’t need to try and fit in for anybody.
“Early in coaching camp he was making an attempt too exhausting to not disappoint anybody instead of just taking part in basketball the means that he knows how to play basketball … Like I said, we need him to be him and if he does that, he’s going to be actually, actually massive for us.”
Mamukelashvili admits he’s still learning. His versatility comes with the need to be — well — versatile. Many of his responsibilities change depending on the lineup on the floor. Defensively, when he’s at the five, he’s got to know his coverages, make sure he’s not too far from the ball handler, but also not too close to the rim. When he’s at the four, he needs to be physical and vocal and make sure he’s sticking to his guy.
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“It’s a studying curve for me, for sure,” he said. “[Assistant] coach Lindsey [Harding] is doing an superb job just in explaining and we work on it after shootarounds and after practices. … staying vocal on the court helps me because it variety of retains my thoughts going all the time, and you just can’t chill out.”
His skillset fits seamlessly around anyone. His contract, though, means that skillset has to be conducive to winning, whether it be now or sometimes in the four years he’s under contract. But for now, Mamukelashvili is just focused on getting better:
“I’m making an attempt to get higher. I’m making an attempt to be more bodily. I’m making an attempt to not get out-rebounded. But you know, third recreation, and I’m sure I’m just gonna keep getting higher.”
You can observe Connor on Twitter at @cmorenoNBA.
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