The 7-foot-4 French sensation Victor Wembanyama, who looks destined to be the NBA’s best player someday, is the focal point of the San Antonio Spurs’ future growth, and they are working to expedite his progress.
They signed veteran point guard Chris Paul this summer, and they have big expectations for first-round pick Stephon Castle, who recently had a wrist injury.
They reached an agreement with forward Sandro Mamukelashvili on a one-year contract on Tuesday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, to retain him on staff.
Although Mamukelashvili was raised primarily in Italy and the Central Asian state of Georgia, he is actually from New York City.
He eventually made his way back to the United States, where he studied at Seton Hall University in North Jersey. As a senior, he won the Big East co-Player of the Year award while averaging 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Throughout his three NBA seasons, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward has averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game after being selected by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
After being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, Mamukelashvili was signed by the Spurs towards the end of the 2022–2023 season.
Though very few anticipate the Spurs to qualify for the postseason or the play-in round this upcoming season, they do have some potential, as shooting guard Devin Vassell, who averaged 19.5 points per game in 2023–24, is one of their players.
It is unsettling to consider how much better Wembanyama, who finished his rookie season with 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and an NBA-high 3.6 blocks per game, will be in just his second season of play.
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