The San Antonio Spurs are building for the future around Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French phenom who seems destined to become the best player in the NBA someday, and they’re trying to speed up their development.
They acquired veteran point guard Chris Paul this summer, and although first-round draft pick Stephon Castle recently injured his wrist, they have high hopes for him.
On Tuesday, per Adrian Wojnarowski, they agreed with forward Sandro Mamukelashvili on a one-year deal to keep him in the fold.
Free agent F Sandro Mamukelashvili has agreed on a one-year, $2.2 million deal to return to the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell ESPN. George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports confirmed the deal. pic.twitter.com/SDycP275f9
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 16, 2024
Mamukelashvili is originally from New York City, although he mainly grew up in the nation of Georgia in Central Asia, as well as in Italy.
He ended up returning to the States and attended Seton Hall University in North Jersey, where he averaged 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds a game and was the Big East co-Player of the Year as a senior.
After he was a second-round draft pick by the Indiana Pacers in 2021, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward has averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.7 minutes a game through three NBA seasons.
The Spurs signed Mamukelashvili late in the 2022-23 season after the Milwaukee Bucks had waived him.
Practically no one expects the Spurs to make the playoffs or the play-in tournament this coming season, but they aren’t exactly devoid of talent, as they also possess Devin Vassell, a shooting guard who averaged 19.5 points a game during the 2023-24 campaign.
It is scary to think how much better Wembanyama, who put up 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and an NBA-high 3.6 blocks a game as a rookie, will be in just his second season in the league.
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