Spurs Send Message to Victor Wembanyama's Former Teammate After Career Decision
On Tuesday, Sandro Mamukelashvili agreed to a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Toronto Raptors, including a player option for the second year.
Advertisement
Mamukelashvili served as the San Antonio Spurs' backup to Victor Wembanyama last season, averaging 6.3 points and 3.1 rebounds on 50.2% shooting in 11.2 minutes per game.
With Mamukelashvili's departure, the Spurs lost not only a dependable bench piece but also a young, versatile talent who complemented Wembanyama's transcendent skill set.
Three days later, on Friday, the Spurs organization took to X to offer a fond farewell, posting with the message, "Once a Spur, always a Spur 🖤🤍 Thank you, @Mamukelashvili5! Wishing you all the best in Toronto!"
Signed off waivers on March 3, 2023, Mamukelashvili earned a standard NBA contract and quickly became a reliable rotational piece under Gregg Popovich, playing in a career-high 61 games this past season.
Advertisement
On March 19, he erupted for a career‑best 34 points and nine rebounds in just 19 minutes off the bench against the New York Knicks, setting an NBA record for most points scored in under 20 minutes of play.
That performance underscored "Mamu's" scoring versatility, highlighted by a 37.3% 3‑point clip on 8.5 attempts per 36 minutes.
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) drives to the net against Toronto Raptors guard Scottie Barnes (4).© John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Toronto's frontcourt depth was an explicit need this offseason, and Mamukelashvili's perimeter shooting, passing touch and proven Spurs pedigree made him an attractive fit.
This farewell marks the end of a budding partnership in San Antonio and the start of a new chapter in Toronto, all while Wembanyama and the Spurs chart a course toward the future.
Advertisement
Related: Dennis Schroder Sends 3-Word Message After Joining Sacramento Kings
Related: Rockets Release NBA Veteran Days After Kevin Durant Trade
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lakers agree to record-breaking seven-team trade after blockbuster Luka Doncic deal
The Los Angeles Lakers have been highly productive after their season-ending loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Apr. 30. The organization has signed free agents Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton, and Jaxson Hayes to deals to kick off free agency. Advertisement According to a recent report from the Stein Line's Jake Fischer, the Lakers have agreed to a record-breaking seven-team trade months after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. 'While we sift through the Jonas Valanciunas developments in Denver (Nuggets), the NBA-record seven-team trade that will send Kevin Durant to Houston (Rockets) has been fully agreed to in principle (the deal includes the Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Rockets, and Phoenix Suns),' Fischer stated Thursday. Lakers fans shouldn't get too excited about the deal, though. Acquiring Arkansas star forward Adou Thiero isn't necessarily a franchise-altering move for Los Angeles. However, over time, the explosive vertical athlete and determined downhill attacker could transform into a key role player in JJ Redick's rotation. Thiero averaged 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds with the Razorbacks last season, shooting 54.5% from the field in 27 contests. Advertisement Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp The trade, as The Athletic's Fred Katz alluded to on Wednesday, is more about finalizing deals that have already made headlines, and less about teams making additional moves to beef things up. 'At least in the iterations of the deal discussed so far, most of the recognizable names are from trades that have already been agreed to and reported but not yet finalized,' Katz mentioned. Still, it's remarkable that Los Angeles will have the luxury of saying they achieved a new milestone, assuming the deal eventually goes through. More NBA: Warriors agree to historic seven-team trade involving two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lakers predicted to go after career average 21.5 points per game star if available
The Los Angeles Lakers are doing their best to build something great. When the Luka Doncic trade gifted them a generational superstar, they decided to switch from building around LeBron James to building around Luka. The Lakers are looking to get as much talent as they can find through trades or free agency signings. Recent NBA free agency rumors are saying that a new star player could become available. Advertisement Reports indicate that the Suns could be buying Beal out of his current contract this offseason. This would allow him to enter the free agency pool and instantly become the best available player. John Gambadoro of Phoenix sports radio reported that the Lakers are one of the teams interested in signing Beal if he became a free agent. Last season Beal averaged 17 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game shooting nearly 50% from the field and 38.6% from three. He has averaged 21.5 points per game throughout his career. If available, the Lakers need to pursue Beal on the free agent market. Adding another scoring threat to their roster would take a ton of offensive pressure off of Luka and LeBron. Advertisement Earlier in his career Beal was also known as a 3-and-D star. If he could tap back into that skillset on a contending Lakers team, he'd become an even better fit. The Lakers don't have a ton of money to throw around in free agency, but if Beal is bought out, he may be willing to sign for less to go to a contender. The Lakers already benefited from that with their DeAndre Ayton signing. Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp So the Lakers need to monitor the Beal situation and see if they can swoop in and snag another star for cheap. More NBA: Lakers predicted to lose 5-time All-Star free agent target to rival team
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Heat Make Final Decision on Trading Former No. 1 Overall Pick
Heat Make Final Decision on Trading Former No. 1 Overall Pick originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In one of the more bizarre situations during the NBA season, the Miami Heat were left with no choice but to trade Jimmy Butler. Advertisement The six-time NBA All-Star was frustrated following Pat Riley's decision not to extend Butler's contract before the 2024-25 season, which was expected to be worth around $113 million over two years. After demanding a trade to certain teams, Butler ended up accepting a move to the Golden State Warriors. In return, as a part of the five-team deal, the Heat landed former top pick Davion Micthell, Kyle Anderson and former No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Andrew Wiggins. Following a season that saw the Heat limp into the playoffs only to be blasted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Riley is looking to be active in free agency or the trade market. While this means acquiring players, it also means parting with some as well. Something that according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, the Heat are willing to do with Wiggins and Terry Rozier. Advertisement Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22).Sam Navarro-Imagn Images "After letting Duncan Robinson walk in free agency, the Heat are below the first apron and still looming on the trade market as a team wanting to make a substantial move," wrote Siegel. "Andrew Wiggins and Terry Rozier are two players the Heat would like to trade, sources said. Neither player would be involved in a potential Kuminga sign-and-trade for the Warriors to bring back." In terms of what move is available for the Heat that could see them part with Wiggins and Rozier, that remains to be determined. Related: LeBron James Breaks Silence on Trade Speculation After Post on Friday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
