San Antonio Spurs’ Sandro Mamukelashvili Makes NBA History with Unbelievable Performance
In a night that will be remembered for its sheer unpredictability and excitement, San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili left fans and teammates in awe with a performance that defied expectations. The Spurs’ 120-105 victory over the New York Knicks was not just another win; it was a historic moment for Mamukelashvili, who scored a career-high 34 points in under 20 minutes, setting an NBA record for the most points scored in such a short time since the 1951-52 season.
After the game, Mamukelashvili was visibly overwhelmed, pacing near his locker and repeatedly saying, “I don’t know what f—ing happened.” His disbelief was shared by the 18,521 fans at Frost Bank Center, who were hyped up by none other than rapper Flavor Flav, a close friend of Mamukelashvili. The crowd erupted with MVP chants, adding to the surreal atmosphere of the night.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” Mamukelashvili expressed. “I just can’t explain how I feel right now. I feel like I’m in a dream. I manifested and prayed for it. I just waited for this day. I really had an out of body experience for a little bit there. I was like, ‘Is this really happening?'”
The celebration was not just limited to the fans. Mamukelashvili’s teammates mobbed him on the court at the final buzzer, and Flavor Flav, dressed in his signature red T-shirt and clock necklace, crashed the postgame interview to declare, “I don’t care what nobody says. My man is on fiiiiiiiirrrreee!”
Teammate Jeremy Sochan, sitting one locker over, jokingly asked if they could keep Flavor Flav in San Antonio for a while, highlighting the camaraderie and joy within the team.
Mamukelashvili, who averages 8.9 minutes per game, didn’t even enter the game until 55 seconds into the second quarter. Yet, he wasted no time making an impact. His first points came from a tip-in off a Blake Wesley miss, followed by a 27-foot three-pointer assisted by Stephon Castle, giving the Spurs a 7-point lead.
By halftime, Mamukelashvili had already racked up 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, along with 7 rebounds and an assist. The Spurs led 67-43 at the break.
Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson was equally astonished, stating, “13-of-14 from the field, 7-for-7 from 3, it would be ridiculous to say that was expected in 19 minutes and 26 seconds of opportunity. He’s a really good shooter, and you’re just waiting for him to have one of those games. I think that probably exceeded some of the thought of having one of those games. But he comes to work every day. He’s the most consistent person, especially when you talk about the role that he has. That’s why you can hear a little bit of the guys [in the locker room] and their feeling for him.”
Although Mamukelashvili didn’t play in the third quarter, he returned in the final frame to torch the Knicks with 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-4 from three-point range, along with 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
Veteran teammate Chris Paul recognized the hot hand and started calling plays to get Mamukelashvili more opportunities. “Luckily, I’ve played for a while and sort of know the art of getting guys shots,” Paul said. “Mamu is an amazing teammate. He comes in and works hard every day, cheers guys on, always in a good mood, good attitude. When he’s shooting the ball like that, you just try to find the guy.”
Mamukelashvili’s performance placed him in elite company, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to shoot 90% from the field, 100% on 3-pointers, and 100% on free throws in a game, joining Tyrese Haliburton (2022), Gary Payton (1995), and Charles Barkley. He also became the third Spur to hit 7-of-7 or better on 3-pointers, joining Matt Bonner (2010) and Steve Smith (2001).
This unforgettable night was made even more special as Mamukelashvili’s father, Zurab, had flown in from New Jersey to watch the game with other family members. Flavor Flav, who celebrated his birthday on March 16, has been a long-time friend of Mamukelashvili, having met through the rapper’s financial advisor. Flavor Flav even attended Mamukelashvili’s first NBA Summer League in 2021.
“He was telling me, ‘I’m gonna come out,'” Mamukelashvili recalled. “He called me and was like, ‘For my birthday, I’m coming to San Antonio.’ So, I was like, ‘OK, you ain’t gonna have fun there.'” But thanks to Mamukelashvili’s career night, fun was certainly had at Frost Bank Center.
Reflecting on his performance, Mamukelashvili said, “I’m trying to get better. I’m trying to establish myself. I’m trying to show everybody that I belong. I’ll just keep taking strides towards that. I’m just so happy I have a support team behind me: my girl, my friends, my teammates, my family. Once it sinks in, you’re kind of like, ‘OK, I really worked for this and it’s happening.’ It was an unbelievable feeling.”
ESPN Research contributed to this report.
Originally Written by: Michael C. Wright
