By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-09-10 10:33:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024 年 4 月 12 日星期五，在圣安东尼奥举行的马刺队与丹佛掘金队的 NBA 比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）在得分后庆祝。马刺队以 121-120 获胜。
上赛季结束后，当桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）在马刺训练馆清理自己的储物柜时，他无法确定自己是否还会回到这里。
这位 25 岁的锋线球员将连续第二个夏天成为自由球员，他不确定自己的篮球生涯将走向何方。
然而，马穆克拉什维利有一个强烈的愿望。
“我的心属于圣安东尼奥，” 马穆克拉什维利说。“在我的内心深处，我希望一切顺利，我能回来。”
马穆克拉什维利的愿望在 7 月份实现了，当时他签署了一份价值 208 万美元的新的一年期合同。
就大牌签约而言，马穆克拉什维利这份联盟最低保障合同的光芒无法与 12 届全明星控球后卫克里斯·保罗（Chris Paul）加盟圣安东尼奥的合同相提并论。
但对马穆克拉什维利个人而言，这份让他重回马刺征战第三个赛季（也是与冉冉升起的超级巨星维克多·文班亚马（Victor Wembanyama）并肩作战的第二个赛季）的合同是今夏最重要的。
“你总是希望融入到一些特别的事情中，成为其中的一部分，”马穆克拉什维利最近回到马刺训练馆进行训练后说道。“维克多在这里，我们又增加了几位老将和一些优秀的年轻球员，这是你想要成为其中一员的地方。这里一直在不断成长，没有人只是坐着休息，每个人都来健身房刻苦训练，你想要成为其中一员。”
需要明确的是，身高 6 英尺 11 英寸的马穆克拉什维利只是马刺队拼图中的一小块，他们希望在新秀赛季就已获得年度最佳新秀的文班亚马的带领下，在 22 胜 60 负的战绩基础上更上一层楼。
上赛季，马穆克拉什维利出场 46 场，场均 9.2 分钟，得到 4.1 分和 3.2 个篮板。他以训练后花式投篮的视频在社交媒体上走红，并因此闻名。
在本赛季的最后阶段，马穆克拉什维利获得了更多的上场时间，并在此过程中与文班亚马建立了良好的二人配合。今年 4 月，主教练格雷格·波波维奇（Gregg Popovich）称马穆克拉什维利是他最喜欢的球员。
尽管获得了名人堂教练的赞誉，但如果认为马穆克拉什维利可能会很快提升在马刺前场阵容深度榜上的排名，那就言过其实了。即使没有发生这种情况，马穆克拉什维利也表示，他愿意在下一个赛季继续担任替补球员。
“对我这种处境的球员来说，在联盟多打一年就已经是值得庆祝的事了，”他说。
的确，马穆克拉什维利能走到今天这一步，除了努力工作之外，还需要一点运气。
马穆克拉什维利在 2021 年 NBA 选秀大会上以第 54 顺位被选中，并在那个赛季与密尔沃基雄鹿队签署了一份双向合同，开始了自己的职业生涯。2023 年 3 月，雄鹿队放弃了他，马刺队随后认领了他。
在过去的两个夏天里，他都经历了自由球员市场上的残酷竞争，最终都与马刺队签下了一年期的合同。
马穆克拉什维利说，他今年夏天第二次进入自由球员市场，没有第一次那么伤脑筋了，部分原因是这一次有几支球队对他感兴趣，而不仅仅是圣安东尼奥。
“我第一次成为自由球员的时候，如果你看到我，你会以为我是一个行尸走肉，”马穆克拉什维利说。“我睡不着觉，我一直在刷推特，想知道发生了什么事，只求给我一份底薪合同。”
今年夏天，当一切尘埃落定时，马刺队有空间也有意愿与马穆克拉什维利续约，他便抓住了这个机会。当合同敲定时，他正在拉斯维加斯，非正式地与马刺队的夏季联赛球队待在一起。
在完成了休赛期的这一工作后，马穆克拉什维利就可以自由地享受他的夏天了。这是一个忙碌的夏天。
他代表自己的祖国格鲁吉亚参加了奥运会预选赛，他表示，尽管球队没能进入巴黎奥运会，但这仍然是一段宝贵的经历。他还在西班牙马拉加的国家篮球运动员协会海滨训练基地“避难所”度过了一段时间。他还与 UFC 世界冠军伊利亚·托普里亚（Ilian Topuria）（同样来自格鲁吉亚）一起游览了马德里。
在那之后，马穆克拉什维利回到了格鲁吉亚共和国的山区家中，在那里享受了几个星期的与世隔绝的生活，在星空下烧烤，远离尘世的喧嚣。
“这让我在精神上得到了放松，”他说。“没有电话，什么都没有。”
到 8 月底，马穆克拉什维利回到了马刺队的训练馆，为本月晚些时候开始的训练营做准备。
他很高兴来到这里，这是肯定的。但他并不 仅仅 是高兴来到这里。
“我的旅程中有一点，那就是没有什么是容易的，”马穆克拉什维利说。“这种战斗精神一直伴随着我，无论我身处何种境地，我唯一的想法就是变得更好。如果我只有一点点机会，我想向所有人证明，我不仅仅是高兴来到这里，我想要继续变得更好，我会继续战斗，这就是我的精神。”
他乐观地认为，这种永不放弃的精神将在下一个休赛期得到回报，届时他将重返市场，再次寻找一份新的合同。
“希望，”马穆克拉什维利笑着说，“终有一天，我不会每年夏天都是自由球员。”
2024 年 4 月 14 日星期日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场，底特律活塞队后卫马库斯·萨瑟（Marcus Sasser）（左）试图突破圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）的防守。(美联社照片/Michael Thomas)
2024 年 4 月 12 日星期五，在圣安东尼奥 AT&T 中心举行的马刺队与丹佛掘金队的 NBA 比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）上篮得分。圣安东尼奥以 121-120 击败丹佛。
2024 年 4 月 12 日星期五，在圣安东尼奥 AT&T 中心举行的马刺队与丹佛掘金队的 NBA 比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）上篮得分。马穆克拉什维利砍下 21 分，帮助圣安东尼奥以 121-120 击败丹佛。
2024 年 4 月 12 日星期五，在圣安东尼奥 AT&T 中心举行的 NBA 比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）在丹佛掘金队前锋佩顿·沃特森（Peyton Watson）（8 号）面前投篮。
2024 年 4 月 10 日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（左）突破俄克拉荷马雷霆队中锋比永博（Bismack Biyombo）（右）的防守。(美联社照片/Kyle Phillips)
2024 年 4 月 9 日星期二，在田纳西州孟菲斯举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）在对阵孟菲斯灰熊队的比赛中投篮。(美联社照片/Brandon Dill)
2024 年 4 月 9 日星期二，在田纳西州孟菲斯举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）在对阵孟菲斯灰熊队的比赛中扣篮。(美联社照片/Brandon Dill)
2024 年 4 月 9 日星期二，在田纳西州孟菲斯举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）带球突破孟菲斯灰熊队前锋小杰克逊（GG Jackson）（45 号）的防守。(美联社照片/Brandon Dill)
2024 年 4 月 9 日星期二，在田纳西州孟菲斯举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（Sandro Mamukelashvili）（54 号）在孟菲斯灰熊队后卫乔丹·古德温（Jordan Goodwin）的防守下控球。(美联社照片/Brandon Dill)
2024 年 4 月 2 日星期二，在丹佛举行的一场 NBA 篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利在对阵丹佛掘金队的比赛中扣篮。(美联社照片/David Zalubowski)
点击查看原文：Busy summer led Sandro Mamukelashvili back to San Antonio Spurs
Busy summer led Sandro Mamukelashvili back to San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) celebrates after scoring during the second half of their NBA game with the Denver Nuggets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, April 12, 2024 in San Antonio. Spurs won 121-120.
When Sandro Mamukelashvili cleaned out his locker at the Spurs’ practice facility at the end of last season, he couldn’t say for sure whether he would ever be back in the building again.
Set to become a free agent for the second straight summer, the 25-year-old forward could not be sure what direction his basketball career would take.
Mamukelashvili had a strong preference, however.
“My heart loves San Antonio,” Mamukelashvili said. “In my heart, it was ‘Hopefully it works out and I come back.’ ”
Mamukelashvili’s wish was granted in July, when he signed a new one-year contract worth $2.08 million.
As far as marquee signings go, Mamukelashvili’s league-minimum deal doesn’t match the luster of the pact 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul autographed to come to San Antonio.
To Mamukelashvili personally, the contract that brought him back to the Spurs for a third season — and the second alongside budding superstar Victor Wembanyama — was the most important of the summer.
“You always want to be bought into something special and be a part of something special,” Mamukelashvili said after a recent workout back in the Spurs’ practice gym. “With Victor being here and adding a couple veterans and some great young guys, it’s something you want to be a part of. It’s constant growth. Nobody’s just sitting laid back. Everybody comes to the gym and works hard. You want to be part of that.”
To be clear, the 6-foot-11 Mamukelashvili is a small piece of the puzzle the Spurs are putting together in hopes of improving on the 22-60 record they posted in Wembanyama’s Rookie of the Year campaign.
Mamukelashvili appeared in 46 games last season, averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 9.2 minutes. He became most well known as a viral sensation for his post-practice trick shots the team often posted to its social media accounts.
Down the homestretch of the season, Mamukelashvili earned a bit more playing time and developed a promising two-man connection with Wembanyama in the process. In April, coach Gregg Popovich dubbed Mamukelashvili his favorite player.
Despite the accolades of Mamukelashvili’s Hall of Fame coach, it would be a stretch to believe he might soon vault up the Spurs’ frontcourt depth chart. Even if that doesn’t happen, Mamukelashvili says he is on board for another season as a deep reserve.
“A guy in my situation, just one more year in the league is already a celebration,” he said.
Indeed, it has required a bit of luck — in addition to hard work — for Mamukelashvili to make it this far.
Mamukelashvili was selected 54th overall in the 2021 NBA draft and began his career on a two-way contract with Milwaukee that season. The Bucks waived him in March of 2023, leading the Spurs to claim him off waivers.
He endured the white-knuckle anxiety of free agency in each of the past two summers, landing a one-year deal with the Spurs on both occasions.
Mamukelashvili said his second dip into the free agency waters this offseason was less nerve-wracking than the first, in part because this time around he had interest from a few teams outside of San Antonio.
“My first free agency, if you saw me you would have thought I was a dead man walking,” Mamukelashvili said. “I was not sleeping. I’m on Twitter like, ‘What’s going on? Just give me a minimum deal, you know?’ ”
Once the dust settled this summer, and it became clear the Spurs had room and inclination to re-sign Mamukelashvili, he jumped at the chance. He was in Las Vegas, hanging around unofficially with the Spurs’ Summer League squad, when the deal came down.
Once that piece of offseason business was finished, Mamukelashvili was free to enjoy his summer. It was a busy one.
He played with his home country of Georgia in the Olympic qualifying rounds, which he said was a rewarding experience even though the team did not make it to the Paris Games. He spent time in Malaga, Spain, at the National Basketball Players Association’s seaside workout compound known as “The Sanctuary.” He hopped around Madrid with UFC world champion fighter Ilian Topuria, a fellow Georgian.
After that, Mamukelashvili retreated to his home in the mountains of the Republic of Georgia, where he enjoyed a few weeks off the grid, grilling out under the stars and unplugging from the world.
“That’s mentally relaxing to me,” he said. “No phones or nothing.”
By the end of August, Mamukelashvili was back in the Spurs’ practice gym, gearing up for the start of training camp in later this month.
He is happy to be here, for sure. But he is not just happy to be here.
“One thing about my journey, nothing comes easy,” Mamukelashvili said. “That fighting mentality sticks with me. No matter what situation I’m in, my only thought is to get better. And if I get just a little bit of a chance, I want to show everybody I’m not just happy to be here. I want to keep getting better. I’m going to keep fighting. That’s my spirit.”
He is optimistic that no-prisoners approach will pay off for him next offseason, when he will be back on the market and searching for a new contract again.
“And hopefully,” Mamukelashvili said with a laugh, “there will be a time when I won’t be a free agent every summer.”
Detroit Piston guard Marcus Sasser, left, looks to pass against San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) goes up for a dunk during the second half of their NBA game with the Denver Nuggets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, April 12, 2024. San Antonio beat Denver 121-120
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) goes to the basket for a layup during the second half of their NBA game with the Denver Nuggets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, April 12, 2024. Mamukelashvili scored 21 points to help San Antonio beat Denver 121-120
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8)during the first half of their NBA game at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, April 12, 2024.
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, left, drives past Oklahoma City Thunder center Bismack Biyombo, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) shoots in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) dunks in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) drives ahead of Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Jordan Goodwin in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News