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Lakers newcomer learns to trust franchise’s belief in him
Sandro Mamukelashvili has scored 23 points in each of the Lakers’ recent wins over Atlanta and Milwaukee, helping fill gaps when key players were unavailable or left games. Coach JJ Redick says the Lakers want the forward to play with confidence and freedom, and sees his recent performances as evidence of what that trust can unlock.
Mamukelashvili, who joined the Lakers over the summer after spells with the Bucks, Spurs and Raptors, is averaging 10.8 points this season. He says earlier stretches on a two-way contract and out of the rotation sometimes made him doubt himself, while the Lakers have told him they want him to be himself and a significant part of the team. He is still working towards trusting that support and playing without overthinking.
In short
- Mamukelashvili scored 23 points in each of two Lakers wins.
- Redick wants him to play with greater freedom and confidence.
- The forward says the Lakers’ trust is helping him contribute.
Explained simply
The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team in the NBA, the top league in the United States. A forward is a player who usually helps with both scoring and defending, while a team’s rotation is the group of players regularly used during matches.
Sandro Mamukelashvili joined the Lakers after playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. Earlier in his career, he spent time on a two-way contract, which allows a player to move between an NBA team and its development league, and was sometimes left out of regular play.
Coaches’ confidence can affect how freely a player performs, while injuries or other absences can create more chances for teammates. Mamukelashvili’s place in the Lakers’ plans therefore matters both for his role and for the team’s options across a long season.