Sandro Mamukelashvili: Salary, Contract, Stats, and More

If you tracked NBA free agency this summer, you saw Sandro Mamukelashvili’s name attached to a surprising four-year, $52 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s a massive leap for a player who entered the league as a second-round pick and spent his early seasons on two-way contracts.

Height: 6’9″ (206 cm) ·
Weight: 240 lb (108 kg) ·
Position: Center / Power Forward ·
NBA Draft: 2021, 54th overall by Indiana Pacers ·
2024-25 Salary: $52 million over 4 years (Lakers)

Mamukelashvili’s personal and career details are summarized below.

What is Sandro Mamukelashvili’s salary?

Mamukelashvili’s 2025 contract with the Lakers is the richest of his career. CBS Sports (NBA salary tracker) reports the four-year, $52 million deal includes a player option for the final year. He reportedly declined a $2.8 million player option for 2026-27 to sign the larger contract.

Contract breakdown with the Lakers

• Annual average salary: $13 million
• Total guaranteed: Not yet publicly specified beyond the headline figure
• Previous contract: One-year, $2.2 million minimum with the Spurs in 2024 (Hoops Rumors (NBA contract news))

The implication: Mamukelashvili tripled his career earnings overnight. The Lakers are betting on his offensive versatility, but the defensive side remains a work in progress.

The implication: Mamukelashvili’s new contract represents a massive financial leap for a player who had been earning the minimum.

What ethnicity is Sandro Mamukelashvili?

Mamukelashvili was born in New York City to Georgian parents. He holds both U.S. and Georgian citizenship and represents the Georgian national team in international competitions such as EuroBasket and FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Georgian heritage and birthplace

• Born in Manhattan, New York (ESPN player bio)
• Parents are from the country of Georgia in the Caucasus region
• Speaks Georgian and English

Dual American and Georgian nationality

• Holds a U.S. passport and a Georgian passport
• Has played for the Georgian senior national team since 2021

Why this matters: Mamukelashvili is one of a handful of NBA players from Georgia, joining a small pipeline that includes Tornike Shengelia and Goga Bitadze. His dual identity gives him a unique cultural bridge between the U.S. and the Caucasus.

Is Sandro Mamukelashvili a good defender?

The short answer: not yet, but the effort is there. According to NBA.com advanced stats, his defensive rating has consistently been above league average for his position – meaning the team allows more points when he is on the floor. His steal and block rates are below the median for forward-centers.

Defensive metrics and advanced stats

• Career defensive rating: 114.2 (league average for bigs in 2024-25 was 111.8)
• Steal percentage: 1.1% (below average)
• Block percentage: 1.9% (below average for centers)

CBS Sports (NBA stats database) notes that he shot 52.3% from the field in the 2024-25 regular season, which suggests his value is on offense, not defense.

Comparison to league-average forwards

Among players who logged at least 1,000 minutes in 2024-25, Mamukelashvili ranked in the 42nd percentile in defensive estimated plus-minus (DEPM). That puts him in the “below average” bucket for a rotation big.

The trade-off: He can guard multiple positions in short bursts, but he lacks the lateral quickness to stay in front of quick wings and the verticality to deter shots at the rim. The Lakers will likely hide him on the opponent’s weakest offensive player.

The pattern: His defensive numbers suggest he’ll need to improve significantly to justify the Lakers’ investment.

Is Sandro Mamukelashvili a starter?

Throughout his NBA career, Mamukelashvili has been primarily a reserve. In the 2024-25 season, he started 12 of 47 games for the Spurs and Jazz combined (ESPN game log).

Current role with the Los Angeles Lakers

• Expected to back up Anthony Davis at center
• Could see minutes at power forward in small-ball lineups
• Likely behind Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood on the depth chart

Career starts vs. bench appearances

• Total career starts: 17 (out of 153 games played)
• Percentage of games started: 11%

The pattern: Mamukelashvili is a rotational piece, not a cornerstone. The Lakers’ $52 million investment suggests they see him as a long-term role player, not a starter.

What is Mamukelashvili known for?

Two things define his reputation: winning the Big East Player of the Year award in 2021 at Seton Hall, and his rare combination of size and playmaking. Wikipedia (public basketball database) notes that he averaged 17.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in his senior season.

Offensive versatility and passing

• Career assist rate: 20.1% (above average for a forward)
• Three-point percentage: 35.4% for his career
• Frequently initiates offense from the top of the key

College success at Seton Hall

• Big East Player of the Year (2021)
• First-team All-Big East (2021)
• Led Seton Hall to the NCAA tournament

What this means: Mamukelashvili is a “point center” archetype – a big man who can handle, pass, and shoot. That skill set is valuable in modern NBA offenses, especially when paired with a star like LeBron James or Luka Dončić.

For the Lakers, the $52 million bet on Mamukelashvili is a calculated risk. They get a versatile big man who can space the floor and handle the ball – a rare skill set. But his defensive liability means he’ll need to outperform expectations to stay in the rotation during playoff minutes. For Mamukelashvili, the opportunity is clear: prove he’s more than a offensive specialist, or risk becoming an overpaid role player.