Sandro Mamukelashvili reveals his basketball idols, compares Wemby to Giannis / News - Basketnews.com

In his interview with BasketNews, Sandro Mamukelashvili reacts to his extension with Spurs, shares his first impressions of Victor Wembanyama, talks about Gregg Popovich's mentorship, reveals his European and U.S. role models, tells his 'Welcome to the NBA' moment, and evaluates Georgia's chances in FIBA World Cup 2023.

Credit: AP - Scanpix, Georgian Basketball Federation Credit AP - Scanpix, Georgian Basketball Federation

Sandro Mamukelashvili hits two 3-pointers, adds a mid-range jumper, and helps the Georgian national team erase an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit against Lithuania to tie the FIBA World Cup 2023 preparation game in Kaunas, Zalgirio Arena.

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Position:C, PFAge:25Height:209 cmWeight:110 kgBirth place:New York, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

However, Lithuania's guard Tomas Dimsa makes a game-winning tip-in at the final buzzer, and the hosts defeat Georgia, 104-102.

Mamukelashvili stopped former NBA wing Ignas Brazdeikis on the last defensive possession, but Dimsa used his size advantage over Thad McFadden.

'Mamu' finished the friendly game with 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists, showing what San Antonio Spurs fans enjoyed at the end of the last season.

Just several days ago, Spurs officially re-signed the Georgian forward, and Mamukelashvili is over the moon to be back with the historic franchise.

"I am very excited and happy, my words cannot describe this," Mamukelashvili told BasketNews after Tuesday's game. "I just want to go there, play as hard as possible, and be a part of this San Antonio rebuild.

"I am happy with the guys we have. We are so close, we love each other, and we have great chemistry off the court, so I think just going back really helps me to be better. I will be giving 110 percent every game," he added.

Mamukelashvili was initially signed by the Spurs on March 3, 2023. In 19 games (seven starts) for San Antonio, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over 23.3 minutes.

Prior to joining the Spurs, the 24-year-old was on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Gregg Popovich's trust in 'Mamu' paid dividends as his doubled minutes resulted in almost five times better scoring numbers -- alongside other improvements -- than in his time with Milwaukee.

Some would argue that it is just the team switch from title contender to an outsider, but Mamukelashvili credits 'Coach Pop.'

"I feel like he impacted me from day one," the Georgian basketball star said. "Just going in the gym and seeing him, that's unbelievable. Growing up a Spurs fan, just knowing how great of a coach he is and how much he loves basketball and just seeing how good he is as a person.

"He always taught us that basketball is part of life, but there is some other stuff that we also have to know, like what's going on in the world and what's going on around us, so I feel like he is more of a mentor and a father figure -- given his age -- he is even a grandfather figure already. He is a great guy to be around," 'Mamu' continued.

"I feel like seeing him, you wanna play hard, and you wanna show him how bad you want it. He is an unbelievable guy and definitely impacted me, and I am happy to be around him," he added.

Mamukelashvili's basketball path has also been influenced by some of the European and U.S. greats. As he says, "I always wanted to have a game like a European and a swag of an American player."

"I would say European was Toni Kukoc," Mamukelashvili revealed his European role model. "I loved his game. He was the first big who could pass, dribble, and shoot. Lefty. I definitely loved watching him.

"My American ones were Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, and Monta Ellis," the New-York born big man said. "Those were the guys I used to always mimic as a young kid. But yeah, Toni Kukoc was my European guy, who I was trying to play like. That's the style [European with an American swag] how I wanna play, and hopefully, it looks like that."

Credit FIBA

Antetokounbros is another NBA phenomenon with the aforementioned attributes. Greeks, who adored watching local legends like Vassilis Spanoulis, fit well into the American culture.

Quite a coincidence, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the one who baptized Mamukelashvili during his first Bucks training camp back in 2021. As 'Mamu' revealed in the Thanalysis podcast hosted by Thanasis Antetokounmpo, he talked trash and challenged Giannis before the training session and got posterized immediately.

Was it his 'Welcome to the NBA' moment?

"That was definitely my 'Welcome to the Milwaukee Bucks' moment," Mamukelashvili responded to BasketNews' question with a smile. "Giannis dunking on me was crazy, but you know, it was not once. I feel like he used to play hard, and I used to challenge him. I went to his house a couple of times to play one-on-one. It's great to be around him, so I got better.

"But my 'Welcome to the NBA' moment was my first game against Brooklyn when James Harden cooked me," he admitted. "Three threes in a row, and then I went to sit on the bench. Definitely, this was the moment."

If Mamukelashvili played with 'Greek Freek' in Milwaukee, his new Spurs teammate and No. 1 overall draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, could be called a 'French Freek.' Standing at 7-foot-4 (2.23 meters), Wemby possesses everything an NBA team could wish for -- great work ethic, ambitious character, and a unique basketball skillset.

'Mamu' has already had a conversation with Wembanyama, as he told BasketNews.

"Yeah, he is a great guy. Very down-to-earth," Mamukelashvili shared his first impressions. "I love how he works hard -- he comes very early and does his stuff. Definitely, a professional, and I look forward to playing with him, getting close to him, giving him some assists, and getting some of them. You know, he is a great guy."

Mamukelashvili says we could draw comparisons between Wembanyama and Giannis.

"You can say that, as he is very long and athletic. I feel like he has a great shot for his size and handles. I think he will be a generational player once he develops," the Georgian points out while he gears up for his second big FIBA event with the national team.

The Seton Hall product played in FIBA EuroBasket 2022 at home last year, averaging 15.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over five games.

However, Georgia's journey finished in the group stage, as one of the four host nations was dealing with Tornike Shengelia's absence and Goga Bitadze's injury.

Mamukelashvili believes this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 should be a better experience. Still, underdog status chases Georgia, despite having a very solid frontcourt line, with 'Mamu' himself, Bitadze, Shengelia, and Giorgi Shermadini.

"We always feel like underdogs wherever we go," Mamukelashvili said ahead of Georgia's first-ever World Cup. "We have only 3.5 million people in our country, and we made it. I feel like we have so much chip on our shoulders, especially after EuroBasket did not go our way and we did not get out of the group.

"Definitely, we feel like an underdog," he reiterated. "I feel like I have been in this situation before -- personally, me being the underdog for my entire life. We all have great heads on our shoulders, we know why we are going there, and I think we can do great."

Credit FIBA

Does he have World Cup favorites to win it all?

"Not really," the Spurs big man answered. "A lot of stars are missing the tournament -- long NBA season, some of them could not make it, and some had injuries. Now, I am only thinking about us and who we are in the group with.

"I think our chances are great. First game is going to be very big, so if you win the first game, you can calm down and settle down. Right now, we have to prepare hard and keep working."

During the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Georgia will play in Group F and face Slovenia, Cape Verde, and Venezuela.

If Georgia advances to the Second Round, it will meet teams from Group E, consisting of Germany, Finland, Australia, and Japan.

Surely, not an easy task to have a long ride, but Georgians are known for their fighting spirit, perseverance, and comeback efforts which were witnessed in Lithuania on Tuesday night.

Mamukelashvili confirms EuroLeague interest, leaves European doors open Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.