Sandro Mamukelashvili

Alexander “Sandro” Mamukelashvili, born on May 23rd, 1999, is a charismatic Georgian-American professional basketball player currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). An illustrious career as a college basketball player at Seton Hall and a marvelous stint with Montverde Academy mark his journey before entering the NBA.

Born in the sprawling metropolis of New York City, Sandro moved to Tbilisi, Georgia, at a very tender age after spending his early months in New York. This decision exposed him to three cultures allowing him to speak fluent English, Georgian, Russian, and Italian.

Basketball runs in Mamukelashvili’s blood as his grandmother, Ira Gabashvili was a renowned member of the Soviet Women’s National Basketball team. His older brother, David, acted as a catalyst and introduced Mamukelashvili to basketball at a young age. Growing up he idolized Georgian player Zaza Pachulia who later became his mentor.

Sandro’s early life was exposed to inspiration and culture in the form of his famed pianist aunt Eteri Andjaparidze, and his brother David, who taught English at Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey.

At the age of 14, Sandro moved to Biella, Italy, attending high school and competing in the U17, U18, and U19 basketball teams. Even though moving to Italy was a difficult transition, his club and head coach Federico Danna helped him adapt. His time there was marked by remarkable feats including a third-place finish in the national finals.

In 2016, Sandro moved to the U.S and attended Montverde Academy, Florida, where he played alongside Toronto Raptors player RJ Barrett. Pachulia guided Mamukelashvili, introducing him to renowned names in basketball, including Stephen Curry.

Despite an injury stint, his junior year at Seton Hall saw him average 11.9 points per game and he was named Big East Co-Player of the Year during his senior year. During his tenure, he marked his signature style making aggressive rebounds and deft passing an integral part of his game.

Sandro’s massive growth continued as he advanced in his career, claiming his 1,000th career point in a game against DePaul in his senior year, where he finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. His senior year averaged at 17.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, earning him a flattery of accolades, including the Big East co-Player of the Year and the Haggerty Award as the best player in the New York metropolitan area.

After a stellar run at Seton Hall, Sandro entered the 2021 NBA draft, picked in the second round by the Indiana Pacers. Soon after, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks and was signed on a two-way contract, allowing him to play for the Bucks and their NBA G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.

In no time, Sandro was honored in the NBA All-Summer League First Team on July 18, 2022. However, his time with the Bucks ended when he was waived on March 1, 2023. Two days later, he was picked up by the San Antonio Spurs and his deal was converted into a standard NBA contract. His time with the Spurs has already been extended twice.

Aside from his NBA career, Mamukelashvili proudly represented his Georgian roots, playing for the national basketball team at the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifications and the Georgia U20 team at the FIBA U20 European Championship. The versatility, skill, and dedication of Mamukelashvili continue to shine through his performances, marking him as a player to watch in the future.