It took some time, but Sandro Mamukelashvili, the former second-round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks, has developed into a nice rotational player. Currently with the Toronto Raptors, the fifth-year big man is having the best season of his NBA career, putting up numbers and making an impact that Bucks fans could only have dreamed of all those years ago.
Raptors enjoying Sandro Mamukelashvili's breakout
In 16 games with the Toronto Raptors this season, Mamukelashvili has been a surprise. He's put up averages of 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting a scorching hot 45 percent from downtown in 18.4 minutes, serving as a nice rotational piece for a young team that is on the rise in the Eastern Conference.
All of Mamukelashvili's potential was on display in a recent win over the Washington Wizards. In just 21 minutes, he poured in 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal. He won't do that every single night, but when given an opportunity, it's crystal clear that the 6-foot-11 big man's passing, rebounding, scoring, and shooting can be useful.
He got his revenge against the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this season with 15 points, seven rebounds, and an assist in a 28-point win.
Mamukelashvili came to Milwaukee as the 54th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and an intriguing big man prospect. Unfortunately, like many of the Bucks' draft picks in the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, he never got a chance to shine. In 624 minutes across a season-and-a-half, he averaged a mere 3.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.
There were glimpses of potential sprinkled in, but Mamukelashvili never got his chance to shine in a frontcourt room featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis. In March 2023, less than two years after he was drafted, Mamukelashvili was cut, paving the way for him to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, where he earned a larger opportunity that led to his current one.
Mamukelashvili isn't the only former Bucks second-round pick enjoying a breakout year. Sam Merrill, who was taken the year before, has been a significant contributor to the Cavaliers' success this year, providing constant perimeter shooting. He's averaging 13.9 points on 44.4 percent 3-point shooting, and the Bucks have gotten a close-up look at his production this season.
All Mamukelashvili and Merrill are showing is that the Milwaukee Bucks made solid picks but did not have the patience to wait things out.
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