The Toronto Raptors likely didn't even realize how brilliant an investment they made in the offseason when they signed center Sandro Mamukelashvili to a two-year, $5.5 million contract.
Right now, in a season where Jakob Poeltl's injury troubles could've derailed Toronto, Mamukelashvili is playing out of his mind.
His last five games have been incredible, ordered here from Jan. 16 and onward through Friday night:
- 13 points, 6-9 FG
- 20 points, 6 rebounds, 8-12 FG
- 14 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 5-8 FG
- 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 8-14 FG
- 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 9-15 FG
In this stretch, the big lefty is also 12-for-26 from 3-point range.
He's had flashes of this before in his NBA career, but he's never put together a five-game stretch like this before.
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The 26-year old, 6-foot-9 Mamukelashvili was born in New York City, played his high school ball at powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida and then went to Seton Hall.
He was the No. 54 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, not a guarantee to amount to anything in the league.
The Raptors liked him as a depth signing, but right now, he's playing like so much more.
There's only one bummer about that contract: The second year is actually a player option.
With how Mamukelashvili is playing right now, he'll almost certainly decline the player option to become a free agent and cash in.
Still, it's been a great investment for the Raptors, because it turns out they've really needed Mamukelashvili.
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