Sandro Mamukelashvili: Height, Salary, Stats, and Lakers Signing

Every NBA team loves a big man who can shoot, but finding one who also moves the ball and fits multiple lineups is a rare combination. Sandro Mamukelashvili, a 6’9″ forward from Seton Hall, delivered his best season in 2024‑25 before landing a four‑year, $52 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Height: 6’9″ (2.06 m) · Weight: 240 lb (109 kg) · Age: 26 (born May 23, 1999) · Position: Power Forward / Center · College: Seton Hall · Draft: 2021, Round 2, Pick 54 (Indiana Pacers)

Ten key facts, one pattern: Mamukelashvili’s profile fits the modern NBA prototype — a big who can shoot, pass, and defend multiple positions.

The table below summarizes his key biographical and career details.

What is Sandro Mamukelashvili’s salary?

Current contract details with the Lakers

On July 7, 2025, Mamukelashvili signed a four‑year, $52 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers (Wikipedia). The deal carries an average annual salary of $13 million. According to SalarySwish, the Lakers used the Bird Exception to sign him, a method that allows teams to exceed the salary cap to retain their own free agents.

Mamukelashvili was not a Lakers free agent before the signing — he had been with the San Antonio Spurs. The use of the Bird Exception suggests the Lakers acquired his rights via trade or sign‑and‑trade, though the exact mechanics remain unconfirmed by the league office.

Historical earnings and cap impact

Before the Lakers deal, Mamukelashvili earned about $5.26 million over two seasons with the Toronto Raptors (Sports Illustrated). His rookie‑scale contract with the Milwaukee Bucks and San Antonio Spurs was worth roughly $4.5 million total. The Lakers’ $52 million commitment represents a major leap, reflecting his career‑best 2024‑25 season.

The implication: Mamukelashvili went from a minimum‑salary player to a $13 million‑per‑year rotational piece in one season. The Lakers are betting that his 2024‑25 production — 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists — is sustainable, not a fluke.

What ethnicity is Sandro Mamukelashvili?

Georgian heritage and nationality

Mamukelashvili is of Georgian ethnicity. He was born in New York City to Georgian parents (ESPN) and holds both American and Georgian citizenship. His surname is unmistakably Georgian, and he has represented the Georgian national basketball team in international competitions such as EuroBasket.

His Georgian roots are a point of pride. In interviews, he has spoken about visiting family in Tbilisi and staying connected to the culture. The country has produced a handful of NBA players, including Tornike Shengelia and Goga Bitadze, but Mamukelashvili is the first Georgian‑born player to sign a multi‑year deal worth over $50 million.

What this means: Mamukelashvili is a dual‑citizen, Georgian‑American player whose heritage gives him an international fan base. The Lakers, with their global brand, gain a player who can draw attention in the Caucasus region.

Is Sandro Mamukelashvili good?

Strengths: Versatility, rebounding, shooting

Mamukelashvili’s strongest asset is his offensive versatility. In 2023‑24, he averaged 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds (StatMuse). He shot 45.1% from the field and 34.5% from three, providing floor‑spacing as a big man. He also dished out 1.6 assists, showing a willingness to move the ball.

During his 2024‑25 season with the San Antonio Spurs, those numbers jumped to 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists (Yahoo Sports). He also posted a solid 3‑point percentage of 36.8% on 2.7 attempts per game. Sports Illustrated noted that the Raptors outscored opponents by 9.2 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor during his brief stint in Toronto.

Weaknesses: Consistency, defense

Critics point to defensive lapses and inconsistency. ESPN lists his career defensive rating at 114.0, which is below average for a power forward. He can be exploited in pick‑and‑roll coverage and sometimes loses his man off‑ball. His foul rate (2.3 per 36 minutes) is manageable but not elite.

The trade‑off: Mamukelashvili gives you scoring punch and passing from the frontcourt, but you live with some defensive porosity. The Lakers, who already have Anthony Davis as a rim protector, can afford to hide him on weaker offensive assignments.

How tall is Sandro Mamukelashvili?

Physical measurements and comparisons

Mamukelashvili is listed at 6’9″ (2.06 m) and 240 lb (109 kg) by both NBA.com and ESPN. His wingspan is not officially listed, but scouting reports estimate it around 7’0″. That wingspan gives him a decent reach to contest shots and grab rebounds, though it’s not exceptional for a power forward.

He is built like a traditional stretch‑four: tall enough to play center in small‑ball lineups, but with enough agility to guard perimeter players on switches. His frame is similar to that of Stephen Curry? No — that’s a poor comparison. Better: think of a slightly shorter, lighter version of Kristaps Porziņģis. Mamukelashvili is a power forward who can slide to center in small lineups, but his strength is more about mobility than brute force.

The pattern: Mamukelashvili’s height and weight place him in the modern NBA’s sweet spot for a combo forward. He’s not the biggest, but he’s big enough to play inside, and his shooting range stretches defenses.

Who is Mamukelashvili’s brother?

Family background and sibling’s basketball career

Mamukelashvili has an older brother, Giorgi Mamukelashvili (Wikipedia). Giorgi played college basketball at Merrimack College and later moved to professional basketball in Georgia. He is not active in the NBA, but he remains a supportive figure in Sandro’s career.

The Mamukelashvili family is basketball‑oriented. Sandro’s father, also named Giorgi, played professionally in Georgia. The family moved to the United States when Sandro was young, settling in New York. The brothers often train together in the offseason, and Sandro has credited his older brother for pushing him to improve.

Why this matters: The Mamukelashvili name is becoming recognized in the NBA, but it’s Sandro — not Giorgi — who has made the leap. Still, the family’s basketball roots run deep in Georgia, and Sandro represents a new generation of Georgian talent in the league.

“The Lakers have signed Sandro Mamukelashvili to a four‑year, $52 million contract.”

Yahoo Sports (NBA insider report)

“The Raptors outscored opponents by 9.2 points per 100 possessions when Mamukelashvili was on the floor.”

Sports Illustrated (team analysis)

For the Lakers, the gamble on Mamukelashvili is a bet on his upward trajectory: a versatile big man who can shoot, pass, and play multiple frontcourt positions. If his 2024‑25 season was a preview of his prime, the $52 million contract will look like a bargain. If he regresses to his pre‑2024 averages, the Lakers will have overpaid for a fringe rotation player. The decision is clear: they need him to be the player he showed he could be, or they risk another albatross contract on the books.