Sandro Mamukelashvili is cooking in the preseason, showcasing a full arsenal of offensive moves that have everyone talking. The Lakers forward is putting up serious numbers, averaging 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in just 20 minutes a game. Forget just the box score, though; this dude is doing it efficiently, nailing 55.6% of his 2-pointers (10-of-18) and a lights-out 58.8% from deep (10-of-17). Seriously, those shooting splits are insane for someone playing his role.
The “Mamu Package” Is Legit, and So Is the Praise
It is not just the numbers that jump out. The Lakers are clearly trusting Mamukelashvili with some major responsibilities early on, making him an open-floor ball-handler and a half-court playmaker. His combo of dribbling, passing, and shooting is already straining defenses, forcing teams to scramble and opening up possibilities for him off the ball, too. After their Tuesday night loss to the Warriors, Austin Reaves himself went on record, talking up Mamukelashvili’s skills as a point forward and how much trust he has in him. That is high praise from a guy like Reaves.
Mamukelashvili obviously felt that, saying, “I think it’s amazing to hear those words from Austin. I look up to him. Even though we’re the same age, he’s a very, very established All-Star-caliber player. So that coming from him means a lot to me. It just makes my life easier.” You can tell what that kind of endorsement means to a player, especially when it is about taking on a bigger role. It is a huge vote of confidence.
Redick’s New Toy: How Mamu Unlocks Offense
It is not just Reaves who is hyping him up. Lakers head coach JJ Redick is already mapping out ways to use Mamukelashvili’s unique skill set. Redick told reporters earlier this week, “He’s a good passer… Part of it for him is the threat of his shot, so he has the initial action with the ball and then what comes after that when he doesn’t have the ball. He’s able to sort of get that space and create an advantage because of the threat of his shot. I’m going to have some fun running plays and ATO’s for him. We’ll have a little Mamu package.”
A “Mamu package?” Sign me up! That sounds like a dream for a coach. With his ability to space the floor and attack closeouts, he can thrive when Reaves or Luka Dončić are running the show, or he can step up as a playmaker and screener, letting them work off the ball. The Lakers are projected to be one of the league’s elite offenses this season, and Mamukelashvili’s versatility is a huge reason why. Get ready to watch this unfold, because it is going to be fun.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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