Sandro Mamukelashvili

Mamukelashvili is an American-Georgian forward who reached the NBA through the 2021 draft after a decorated four-year career at Seton Hall. Drafted by the Indiana Pacers and traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, he has since played for San Antonio and Toronto, bringing a versatile skill set built on European fundamentals and Big East physicality.

Born Alexander Mamukelashvili on May 23, 1999, in New York City, he moved to Tbilisi, Georgia, as a baby. He is fluent in English, Georgian, Russian, and Italian. His grandmother, Ira Gabashvili, played for the Soviet women's national basketball team. His older brother David introduced him to basketball, and Sandro idolized Georgian NBA player Zaza Pachulia.

At age 14, Mamukelashvili moved to Biella, Italy, to attend high school and played for youth teams, helping them finish third nationally. In 2016, he moved to the United States to attend Montverde Academy, where he played alongside RJ Barrett. Pachulia became his mentor and introduced him to Stephen Curry. He committed to Seton Hall on April 20, 2017.

At Seton Hall, Mamukelashvili averaged 2.6 points as a freshman and helped the Pirates reach the NCAA Tournament second round. As a sophomore, he averaged 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. He fractured his right wrist in December 2019 and missed several weeks. He returned in January 2020 and was named Big East co-Player of the Year as a senior.

The Indiana Pacers selected Mamukelashvili 54th overall in the 2021 NBA draft and traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks. He has since played for the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, contributing as a depth forward with playmaking ability and interior presence.

Mamukelashvili functions as a skilled big man with ball-handling ability, passing vision, and shooting range for his size. His European upbringing and Montverde seasoning gave him a mature approach to team basketball. In the NBA, his role centers on secondary playmaking, floor spacing from the forward spots, and providing interior depth in reserve units.