The 2021 NBA Draft is set to kick off on July 29. LWOS continues its draft profiles with Seton Hall’s Sandro Mamukelashvili. He’s one of the most offensively versatile prospects in this year’s draft. He offers an array of skills that you rarely see from a big man. The 6’11” forward could prove to be a steal for teams selecting later in the draft.
Sandro Mamukelashvili 2021 NBA Draft Profile
College
Originally from Tbilisi, Georgia, Mamukelashvili played in Italy before attending Montverde Academy for his Senior year in 2016.
He played all four years at Seton Hall. During his Freshman campaign, he averaged only 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds. As a Sophomore, his production increased. In the 2018-19 season, he averaged 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Going into his Junior year, Mamukelashvili made a leap. He fought to improve his jump shot and went on to shoot 43% from behind the arc and posted 11.9 points and six rebounds per game. Mamukelashvili missed some games due to injury but decided to pass on the draft and return to school for his Senior season. He averaged 17.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. Mamukelashvili was named Big East Player of the Year and made 1st Team All-Big East. He also won the Haggerty Award, given to the best player in the New York Metropolitan area.
Trademark Game: 32 points, nine rebounds, three assists vs St. Johns
Strengths
Mamukelashvili was one of the nation’s most unique players during his time at Seton Hall.
He typically plays power forward, but he truly acts as a point forward. Mamukelashivili also thrives in transition. He is a great passer and he has great ball-handling skills for a big man. Furthermore, Mamukelashivili is useful in pick-and-roll situations because he can be a creator and run the offense. During his Senior campaign, he shot 37.5% on catch and shoot jumpers from behind the arc. He has shooting potential.
Weaknesses
The one big weakness in Mamukelashvili’s game is his defense. Despite standing at 6’11”, he does not act as a rim protector. When guarding smaller players, he often gets beat off the dribble due to his subpar lateral quickness. He may have a difficult time becoming a serviceable defensive NBA big man.
On offense, he lacks isolation capability and shooting consistency. Although he has great handles, he struggles to beat defenders off the dribble in isolation. He does not have a reliable pull-up jumper which will limit his shooting ability at the NBA level. He had success getting to the rim at times in college, but it may be difficult for him to match up against bigger opponents.
Mamukelashvili Player Comparison
An obvious comparison for Mamukelashvili would be Nikola Jokic. He has great passing and ball-handling skills and he has the ability to run the offense in certain situations. He can shoot the three, and overall is an exciting player to watch.
Although he is nowhere near the same level defensively or athletically, Mamukelashvili has some Lamar Odom in his game. Unlike Odom, he will likely play the center spot at the NBA level. Odom showed flashes from behind the arc at times, but he was more well-known because of his flashy passes and highlight plays. Not to mention they are both left-handed.
Draft Projection: Mid to Late Second Round
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
