Sandro Mamukelashvili Makes History with Incredible Performance
SAN ANTONIO — In a state of sheer disbelief, San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili paced nervously near his locker after his team’s 120-105 victory against the New York Knicks. “I don’t know what f—ing happened,” he kept repeating.
Amid the excitement, with rapper Flavor Flav rallying the spirited crowd of 18,521 who chanted MVP, Mamukelashvili etched his name in NBA history by scoring 34 points in under 20 minutes, the highest achievement of its kind since the 1951-52 season when minutes played became officially recorded.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” Mamukelashvili remarked. “It feels surreal. I prayed for this, and now it feels like I’m in a dream. I had an out-of-body experience, thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’”
His teammates celebrated wildly on the court as the game concluded. Flavor Flav, wearing his iconic clock necklace, humorously interrupted Mamukelashvili’s postgame interview, proclaiming, “I don’t care what nobody says. My man is on fiiiiiiiirrrreee!”
Having averaged only 8.9 minutes per game this season, Mamukelashvili entered the game just under a minute into the second quarter and quickly made his mark. He opened his scoring with a tip-in and then knocked down a 27-foot shot, contributing to the Spurs taking a seven-point lead.
By halftime, Mamukelashvili concluded the quarter with an impressive 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, before taking a break in the third quarter. In a sensational fourth quarter performance, he erupted for 21 points on perfect shooting to help secure the win.
Moreover, Mamukelashvili achieved the rare feat of shooting 90% from the field, 100% from three-point range, and 100% from the free-throw line, joining elite NBA legends like Tyrese Haliburton, Gary Payton, and Charles Barkley. This historic night was made even more special with his father, Zurab, in attendance along with other family members.
Mamukelashvili’s journey is just beginning as he aims to establish himself in the league. “I’m trying to prove that I belong here,” he said. “I have a great support system with my girlfriend, friends, teammates, and family. It’s an incredible feeling to see hard work pay off.”
ESPN Research contributed to this report.
