New Los Angeles Lakers big man Sandro Mamukelashvili is representing his home country of Georgia in FIBA World Cup qualifiers this summer, and they have gotten the job done so far.
After a win over Montenegro, Mamukelashvili and Georgia were able to erase a double-digit deficit to come back and beat Portugal on Monday.
Mamukelashvili had 22 points, six rebounds and four assists on the night while shooting 6-of-18 from the field and 3-of-9 from deep. One of those 3-pointers was a circus shot to beat the buzzer:
Ok, Mamu 👀 pic.twitter.com/vEGOKHrHSo
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) August 31, 2026
These were the only two games Georgia will be playing this summer. The top three in each group will advance to the FIBA World Cup, and Georgia is not tied with Spain for second at 13 points begin only Ukraine with 14. Meanwhile, Portugal, Greece and Montenegro are all not far behind with 12 points.
FIBA World Cup qualifiers will continue in November, although Mamukelashvili and some other players obviously will not be able to during the NBA season so it will be up to their teammates to get it done.
Sandro Mamukelashvili ready to play on big stage for Lakers
Coming off a breakout season in Toronto, Mamukelashvili expressed how excited he is to join the Lakers and play on the big stage in L.A.
“First of all, like I said, the organization is very high-level,” Mamukelashvili said in his first media availability. “So many championships, so many great players. I know we play at Crypto Arena, but growing up watching them play at Staples Center, having this purple and gold jersey, it just means a lot.
“I understand that it’s the biggest stage, it’s the best organization, and I just gotta go out there and be ready. You can’t run away from the spotlight, the best thing to have is coming out there every day, having the best fans in the world supporting you and making sure you’re playing with the best players. I think it’s a great step in my career. I fit what they’re doing, I love what the coaching staff is and I love what they preach. I think playing with superstars like Austin and Luka Doncic, it’s just gonna help me get better and be a better player. I think those were the reasons, and as I said, growing up watching Kobe and all those players, the Lakers are a household name. It’s unbelievable to be here and have a jersey.”
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
