Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2024-25 participant opinions! The sequence will take a look at the gamers who completed the season with the San Antonio Spurs on assured contracts and who performed consequential minutes and/or a significant position (so no two-way gamers as a result of we hardly noticed them this 12 months, and no gamers who had been traded away).
Sandro Mamukelashvili
2024-25 stats: 61 video games, 6.3 factors, 3.1 rebounds, 50.2 FG%, 37.3 3PT%
Contract standing: Unrestricted free agent
Age: 25
Two issues assist fringe NBA gamers stick round: possessing traits of an archetype thought-about precious and having flashes of manufacturing when the chance to play arrives. Sandro Mamukelashvili ticks each bins as a possible stretch massive who rebounds and makes his presence felt at any time when he will get to see the court docket, whether or not it’s rubbish time or significant stretches. Mamu has by no means come near taking part in 1,000 minutes in any of his 4 seasons within the NBA, however he’s finished sufficient to pique the curiosity of the Bucks first and the Spurs later, not due to his manufacturing however his potential usefulness.
The 2024/25 season exhibits why he’s been price a bet regardless of clear flaws that maintain him out of the rotation for lengthy stretches. The 25-year-old energy ahead boasted a strong rebounding share, hardly ever turned the ball over, posted the third-highest common velocity on the workforce, which exhibits his fixed and purposeful motion, and made an honest quantity of threes. He was bodily and had a excessive motor whereas being mistake-averse and offering taking pictures, which is precisely what a stretch 4 that brings power off the bench ought to do. The define of a precious NBA participant is there, and due to his charisma and optimistic locker room presence, it’s tempting to not look any nearer.
Nonetheless, the failings are inconceivable to disregard as soon as Mamu is underneath the microscope. The uncooked manufacturing is good, nevertheless it occurred principally in rubbish time. Mamu spent a 3rd of his whole minutes in what pbpstats.com calls low leverage possessions, which implies the workforce was up or down for important margins and with common rotation gamers off the ground. He made 60 threes this season, however 41 got here with the workforce down double digits, and 26 with the lead or deficit being over 16 factors. He shot 26 % from outdoors when the sport was inside 10 factors. Defensively, he was strong at a workforce stage however remained caught between positions, too sluggish to protect perimeter gamers and too small to offer rim safety.
Mamukelashvili will all the time go all out, and he might be useful in the appropriate matchups when his shot is falling. He pairs nicely with Victor Wembanyama. Similar to he did the 12 months earlier than, he closed the season nicely sufficient that the concept of him sticking across the league regardless of not making any severe, tangible enchancment in any space will not be loopy. He was clearly beloved within the locker room, and his depth made him a fan favourite who made some actually tough video games extra entertaining by bringing power. What makes Mamu a troublesome participant to grade is perspective. Anybody who values sporadic manufacturing and leisure from deep bench guys will love him. Those that search for extra can have no selection however to be extra crucial.
Wanting forward
Mamu shall be an unrestricted free agent who ought to solely get minimal presents, so the Spurs may seemingly retain him in the event that they need to. Most of his threes got here in rubbish time, and his greatest performances occurred late within the season, so it’s simple to dismiss his manufacturing. On the identical time, he didn’t actually have many alternatives to indicate his price earlier and in additional high-intensity environments, and he did have his moments when he was requested to contribute. Bringing him again may make some sense, particularly contemplating the chemistry he confirmed with Wembanyama at instances and his optimistic presence within the locker room.
The problem is roster spots. The Spurs have 10 gamers on the books for subsequent season, plus three draft picks and the mid-level exception to make use of. They should add a backup middle and a backup level guard. Mamu received’t seemingly be a precedence. If he’s there after the mud settles in free company, it wouldn’t be the worst thought to retain him, however there’s an equally legitimate case for shifting on after two and a half principally uneventful seasons.
Finest sport: March 19 vs. the New York Knicks, AKA The Mamu Sport: 34 factors on 14 photographs, 7-for-7 from past the arc, 9 rebounds, three assists, and a surreal and hilarious Flava Flav look.
Closing grade: C+
Up subsequent: De’Aaron Fox
Earlier opinions:
Bismack Biyombo, Charles Bassey, Malaki Branham
Blake Wesley
