The Lakers’ new season is drawing close, and one of the more interesting early wrinkles on this revamped roster involves Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Los Angeles is set to open the 2026-27 NBA season on Oct. 21 against Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves front and center in the team’s new-look core. Reaves, who the Lakers moved quickly to lock up on a four-year, $185 million deal, is already sounding upbeat about what Mamukelashvili can bring.
After practice over the weekend, Reaves spoke about the newest addition through Infinity TV and made it clear he sees real value in the big man’s skill set. That versatility could put Mamukelashvili in the mix for a starting role, potentially at power forward alongside Walker Kessler if head coach JJ Redick decides to go that direction.
What stands out, according to Reaves, is how Mamukelashvili can impact the game in more than one way. He can handle the ball, push in transition and give the Lakers another option when he’s active on the glass. For a big man, that kind of flexibility gives Redick options.
Redick is already leaning into that idea. He has a “Mamu package” in the works, and the Lakers have already tried it out of timeouts. That alone tells you how much the coaching staff wants to get him on the floor in different situations.
Whether he starts or comes off the bench early, Mamukelashvili looks set for a significant role in Los Angeles. It’s a notable step for a player who climbed from undrafted two-way contract status to a four-year, $60 million deal.
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