Sandro Mamukelashvili Bio
Alexander “Sandro” Mamukelashvili is a Georgian-American professional basketball player who plays power forward and center for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall and listed at 240 pounds, he brings size, skill, and international experience to one of the league’s youngest rosters. After being selected 54th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, he developed into a versatile contributor through stints with the Milwaukee Bucks and the San Antonio Spurs before signing with Toronto in 2025.
Born in New York City and raised between Tbilisi, Italy, and the United States, Mamukelashvili has built his game across multiple basketball cultures. He is fluent in English, Georgian, Russian, and Italian, a background that has shaped his passing vision and his comfort playing in diverse systems. His journey from a youth player in Biella to an NBA role player with a record-setting scoring outburst reflects a steady climb built on patience and craft.
Early Life and Background
Sandro Mamukelashvili was born on May 23, 1999, in New York City, and his family moved to Tbilisi, Georgia, when he was still a baby. He grew up in a household with deep basketball roots. His grandmother, Ira Gabashvili, was a member of the Soviet women’s national basketball team, and his older brother David introduced him to the sport at a young age. As a child in Tbilisi, Mamukelashvili idolized Georgian big man Zaza Pachulia, who would later become an important mentor in his career.
At 14, Mamukelashvili left home to attend high school in Biella, Italy, where he competed for club teams at the U17, U18, and U19 levels and helped his sides reach the national finals. In 2016, he moved to the United States to attend Montverde Academy in Florida, a powerhouse program where he played alongside future NBA player RJ Barrett. Pachulia, by then a veteran in the league, became a regular presence in his development and connected him with players such as Stephen Curry. In April 2017, Mamukelashvili committed to Seton Hall, choosing the Pirates over USC, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.
Path to Basketball
Mamukelashvili’s path to high-level basketball ran through three countries before he ever played a college game. His time at Montverde Academy sharpened his game against elite American high school competition, and his Italian experience gave him a feel for physical, team-oriented basketball. Both phases prepared him for the physical demands and tactical variety of Big East play at Seton Hall.
At Seton Hall, Mamukelashvili progressed steadily across four seasons, developing from a limited freshman role into a senior leader. A wrist injury cut into his junior year, but he returned to average 11.9 points and 6 rebounds per game before briefly declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft and then withdrawing. His senior breakout established him as one of the top big men in the conference and set the stage for his professional career.
Sandro Mamukelashvili Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
As a freshman at Seton Hall in 2017–18, Mamukelashvili averaged 2.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game while helping the Pirates reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His best early performance came against Xavier on February 14, 2018, when he scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The following season, he grew into a more prominent role, averaging 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, including a 23-point performance in a win over Sacred Heart.
After his sophomore year, Mamukelashvili returned to Tbilisi to train with Zaza Pachulia, working to add a jump stop to his game and to extend his shooting range. The work paid off in his junior season, when he averaged 11.9 points and 6 rebounds per game, scored 26 points in a win over Marquette, and hit a game-winning shot against Butler with 0.6 seconds remaining. He closed his college career as a senior star, averaging 17.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game and earning the highest individual honors in the conference.
Seton Hall Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Mamukelashvili’s junior and senior seasons at Seton Hall marked his true college breakthrough. During the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, he averaged 14 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and 60 percent from three-point range, announcing himself as a stretch big with inside-out versatility. A fractured right wrist briefly interrupted his junior campaign, but he returned to play a key role down the stretch.
His senior season elevated his profile nationally. On December 11, 2020, he scored a career-high 32 points with nine rebounds and three assists in a win over St. John’s, and on February 16, 2021, he passed 1,000 career points in a win over DePaul. He finished the year as the Big East co-Player of the Year alongside Collin Gillespie and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, won the Haggerty Award as the top player in the New York metropolitan area, earned First-team All-Big East honors, and was named Associated Press All-America honorable mention.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2021–2023)
Mamukelashvili was selected 54th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers and was traded on draft night to the Milwaukee Bucks along with the draft rights of Georgios Kalaitzakis and two future second-round picks. On August 4, 2021, he signed a two-way contract that split his time between the Bucks and their G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd. He made his NBA debut on October 19, 2021, recording an assist and a rebound in a 127–104 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Assigned to the Wisconsin Herd, Mamukelashvili posted 28 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal in a win over the Windy City Bulls on November 29, 2021, showing two-way potential. He joined the Bucks’ 2022 NBA Summer League roster and was named to the All-NBA Summer League First Team on July 18, 2022. The Bucks waived him on March 1, 2023, ending his two-way stint in Milwaukee.
San Antonio Spurs Era (2023–2025)
Two days after being waived, Mamukelashvili was claimed off waivers by the San Antonio Spurs on March 3, 2023, and his contract was converted to a standard NBA deal. He re-signed with the Spurs on July 27, 2023, and again on July 22, 2024, settling into a rotational role under the franchise’s long-term development plan. San Antonio used his stretch-big skill set to space the floor and to develop young players around him.
His most memorable moment in San Antonio came on March 19, 2025, when he scored a career-high 34 points with nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal in just 19 minutes off the bench in a 120–105 win over the New York Knicks. The performance set a new NBA record for the most points scored in a game while playing fewer than 20 minutes, cementing his reputation as an efficient scoring big.
Toronto Raptors Era (2025–Present)
On July 4, 2025, Mamukelashvili signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Toronto Raptors, joining a rebuilding roster that values positional versatility and outside shooting from the frontcourt. The signing brought him back to a familiar organization, as he had played alongside Raptors guard RJ Barrett at Montverde Academy nearly a decade earlier. He was assigned jersey number 54, matching his draft slot.
In Toronto, Mamukelashvili is expected to serve as a veteran presence in the locker room and a stretch option at both power forward and center. His ability to shoot from distance, pass from the post, and switch defensively fits the modern style of play the Raptors want to feature. Early indications suggest a rotation role with room to grow as the season progresses.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the court, Mamukelashvili is best known as a stretch big with the footwork to operate on the perimeter and the size to battle inside. He shoots confidently from three-point range, reads the game as a passer out of double teams, and uses his 6-foot-9 frame to contest shots and secure rebounds. His comfort in different systems, built across Georgia, Italy, and the United States, allows him to fit alongside a variety of teammates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mamukelashvili’s standout milestones include his 2021 Big East co-Player of the Year award, his selection to the All-NBA Summer League First Team in 2022, and his record-setting 34-point game in under 20 minutes for the Spurs in March 2025. He has also represented Georgia in senior and youth international competition, including the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and the FIBA U20 European Championship, where he averaged 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Sandro Mamukelashvili Career Wins
Across his professional career, Sandro Mamukelashvili has built a résumé highlighted by team success in college, individual conference honors, and record-setting scoring performances in the NBA. While he has not won an NBA championship or an individual NBA award, his body of work includes postseason experience at Seton Hall, a Summer League First Team selection, and a place in the league’s record book for scoring efficiency off the bench.
NBA Highlights
Mamukelashvili’s most notable NBA win came on March 19, 2025, when the San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks 120–105 and he scored 34 points off the bench in only 19 minutes, setting a league record for the most points in a game while playing fewer than 20 minutes. He has contributed to regular-season wins with the Bucks and the Spurs in supporting roles and earned a place on the All-NBA Summer League First Team in July 2022. In his debut on October 19, 2021, he helped the Bucks to a 127–104 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Mamukelashvili helped Seton Hall reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a freshman and played a leading role in multiple Big East victories, including a 74–72 win over Butler on a buzzer-beater and a 90–76 win over Sacred Heart. Internationally, he represented Georgia in senior World Cup qualifying and at the FIBA U20 European Championship, gaining experience against high-level competition. His G League performances with the Wisconsin Herd, including a 28-point outing against the Windy City Bulls, also marked him as a consistent contributor.
Sandro Mamukelashvili Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Basketball runs deep in Mamukelashvili’s family. His grandmother, Ira Gabashvili, was a member of the Soviet women’s national basketball team, giving the household a direct connection to the sport’s history in the region. His older brother, David Mamukelashvili, introduced Sandro to basketball as a child and remains a close influence, currently working as a teacher in the United States. The family also has an artistic side, as Sandro’s aunt, Eteri Andjaparidze, is a pianist.
Personal Life
Sandro Mamukelashvili is known for his multilingual background, speaking English, Georgian, Russian, and Italian fluently, a skill that reflects his upbringing across New York, Tbilisi, and northern Italy. He has often credited Zaza Pachulia as a mentor who helped guide his development from childhood idolization into a professional relationship. He continues to honor his Georgian heritage while building his professional identity in the NBA.
2025 Season Performance
Mamukelashvili’s 2025 campaign began with his July 4 signing of a two-year contract with the Toronto Raptors, marking his third NBA team and a fresh start in the Eastern Conference. He finished the previous season on a high note with the Spurs, setting the NBA record for points in a game while playing under 20 minutes, and he carries that momentum into Toronto’s rebuilding environment. His role with the Raptors is expected to blend frontcourt scoring, floor spacing, and veteran leadership for a young core.
As Toronto evaluates its long-term direction, Mamukelashvili offers a versatile skill set that can complement a variety of lineup combinations. His ability to play both power forward and center gives the coaching staff flexibility in matchups against bigger or smaller opponents. Early-season minutes and production will be key indicators of how central he becomes to the team’s plans.
With two years remaining on his contract, Mamukelashvili has a clear opportunity to establish himself as a long-term piece of the Raptors’ rotation. Continued growth as a shooter, a passer, and a defender would strengthen his case for an expanded role and a longer future in Toronto. The 2025–26 season is likely to be a defining stretch in shaping the next phase of his career.
