By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-03-20 15:15:43
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。
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利 (54) 在 2025 年 3 月 19 日星期三在圣安东尼奥举行的 NBA 篮球比赛中，在与纽约尼克斯队的比赛结束后，与说唱歌手 Flavor Flav 一起离开球场时向球迷示意。（美联社照片/Darren Abate）
在周三马刺队漫长而辉煌的历史上最不可思议的夜晚之一，终场蜂鸣早已响起。主场球迷结束了最不可能的“MVP”呼喊，然后回家了。
Flavor Flav 正在大厅里等着。
最终独自一人站在霜冻银行中心（Frost Bank Center）的马刺队更衣室里，桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)回想起过去三个小时里发生的一切，并提出了一个问题，这个球馆里的每个人——球迷、马刺队、纽约尼克斯队，甚至 Flav 本人——都一定想知道。
“这到底是怎么回事？” 马穆克拉什维利自言自语道。
就称之为“马穆魔法”吧。
这位来自格鲁吉亚共和国、名字很难发音的鲜少上场的替补前锋爆发，砍下职业生涯最高的 34 分，帮助马刺队以 120-105 获胜，为圣安东尼奥又一个打完剩余赛季的征程注入了一丝活力。
这也可能使 马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili) 成为联盟中一个家喻户晓的名字，如果有人能拼写出来的话。
“这是一段艰难的旅程，起起落落，” 马穆克拉什维利 说，这位性格开朗的四年级职业球员一直是密尔沃基和圣安东尼奥的边缘轮换球员。“我正在努力确立自己的地位，向所有人证明我属于这里。”
这位 25 岁的 马穆克拉什维利 在周三一鸣惊人。
他对阵尼克斯队的 14 次投篮尝试命中了 13 次，包括所有 7 次三分球。他唯一的失误是在第一节被纽约的米切尔·罗宾逊封盖。
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利在 2025 年 3 月 19 日星期三在圣安东尼奥举行的 NBA 篮球比赛下半场对阵纽约尼克斯队的比赛中完成扣篮后庆祝。（美联社照片/Darren Abate）
马穆克拉什维利 在第一节或第三节都没有上场一秒钟的情况下完成了所有这些。他在第二节得到了 13 分。 马穆克拉什维利 在第四节得到的 21 分本身就可以构成赛季新高。
马穆克拉什维利 总共上场 19 分 26 秒，成为 NBA 历史上第四位在出场时间少于 20 分钟的情况下得到 30 分的球员。
名单上的其他球员——杰伦·布朗、凯文·杜兰特和凯文·乐福——都入选过全明星。马穆克拉什维利 的 34 分超过了他们所有人。
对于一个场均只有 5 分的球员来说，这还不错。
“我等待这一天很久了，” 身高 6 英尺 11 英寸的 马穆克拉什维利 说，当马刺队周五回到霜冻银行中心面对费城时，他将寻求某种形式的加演。“我简直无法形容我现在的感觉。我觉得我像在做梦。”
更增添了夜晚超现实性质的是，马穆克拉什维利 在 Flavor Flav 坐在场边的情况下表演了他的表演。
dubb secured
pic.twitter.com/ME6WpGx53V
— San Antonio Spurs (@ spurs) March 20, 2025
是的，就是那个 Flavor Flav。
这位 66 岁的前 Public Enemy 说唱歌手和真人秀明星（显然）是 马穆克拉什维利 的朋友。
是的，就是那个 马穆克拉什维利。
“我不会说谎，这是最疯狂的事情，” 马刺队后卫凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson) 谈到这对奇特组合的关系时说。“这是我见过的最随机的事情。”
说唱歌手 Flavor Flav 在 2025 年 3 月 19 日星期三在圣安东尼奥举行的纽约尼克斯队和圣安东尼奥马刺队之间的 NBA 篮球比赛下半场观看比赛。（美联社照片/Darren Abate）
两人在 2021 年通过一位共同的朋友相识，当时 马穆克拉什维利 是雄鹿队的一名新秀，在拉斯维加斯夏季联赛。
马穆克拉什维利 是 马穆克拉什维利，Flav 是 Flav，两人自然一拍即合。两人经常进行 FaceTime 通话，并在 马穆克拉什维利 恰好在纽约时一起出去玩。
当 Flav – 以他的出生证明 William Jonathan Drayton Jr. 为人所知 – 说他本周要去圣安东尼奥庆祝他的生日时，马穆克拉什维利 在尼克斯队替补席后面安排了门票。
那些了解 马穆克拉什维利 的人对这种奇特的友谊并不完全感到惊讶。如果 马穆克拉什维利 拥有自己的情景喜剧 – 在周三之后，没有什么是不可能的吗？– 它会被称为“人人都爱马穆”。
“我认识的每个人都说他们爱他，” 后卫布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)说。“他是一个很棒的人，一个快乐的人。和他在一起感觉很好。”
这也是马刺队的其他球员为 马穆克拉什维利 周三能在聚光灯下闪耀而感到高兴的原因之一。
他在那一夜之前只出场了 46 场比赛，并且只有两次出场时间超过 20 分钟。
即使本赛季深陷上场时间的荒漠，马穆克拉什维利 也从未失去他的笑容或幽默感。毕竟，他是上周恶作剧的幕后主使，拆掉了新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)汽车的轮子。
马穆克拉什维利 在等待机会时从未停止努力。
控球后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)最近在马刺俱乐部俯瞰俱乐部训练馆时，看到球场下方有一个孤独的身影在投篮。
那是 马穆克拉什维利。
“他日复一日地努力工作，” 保罗说。“看到好事发生在像他这样的好人身上总是令人高兴。”
马穆克拉什维利 的职业道德和准备充分是马刺队的工作人员毫不犹豫地委托他更多上场时间的原因。
在周三之前的连续三个晚上都取得了两位数的得分，马穆克拉什维利 似乎已经准备好迎来爆发。
没有人 – 也许甚至 马穆克拉什维利 自己也没有 – 认为他会超过他在密尔沃基创下的 28 分的职业生涯最高分。
“他是一名非常出色的射手，你只是在等待他打出那种比赛，” 代理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说。“虽然我认为（34 分）可能超出了‘那种比赛’的想法。”
当尼克斯队在周三将 28 分的差距缩小到 8 分，时间还剩 7 分 29 秒时，自然而然地是 马穆克拉什维利 锁定了胜局。
他命中了两记三分球，击中切入上篮的 杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)，完成了他自己的一次扣篮，来自 凯尔登·约翰逊 的全场传球，又命中了两个三分球，然后以保罗的传球完成了一次双手灌篮，为这个夜晚画上了句号。
结束后，马穆克拉什维利 在全场起立鼓掌和 MVP 的呼喊声中离开了球场，并在赛后场上采访中被队友们团团围住。
当然，Flavor Flav 对此进行了视频轰炸。
“我真的有一段时间神游天外，” 马穆克拉什维利 说。
稍后，在马刺队空荡荡的更衣室里恢复了自己的状态后，马穆克拉什维利 摇了摇头，并问自己一个没有现成答案的问题。
这到底是怎么回事？
凯尔登·约翰逊 知道一个词可以形容它。
“传奇，” 约翰逊 说。“这是一个传奇的夜晚。”
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) dunks against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) celebrates a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rapper Flavor Flav watches play during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks players Josh Hart (3) and O.G. Anunoby, left, celebrate a basket during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rapper Flavor Flav gestures to photographers during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks guard O.G. Anunoby (8) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks guard O.G. Anunoby (8) swats the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) celebrates a three-point basket with Spurs center Bismack Biyombo during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau watches play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) shoots against New York Knicks’ Miles McBride (2) and O.G. Anunoby (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rapper Flavor Flav watches play during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) grabs the rebound ahead of New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson disagrees with a referee’s call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
点击查看原文：How Flavor Flav set off Sandro Mamukelashvili's career night for Spurs
How Flavor Flav set off Sandro Mamukelashvili’s career night for Spurs
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) gestures to fans as he leaves the court with rapper Flavor Flav after an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
The final horn had long since sounded on one of the most improbable nights in the Spurs’ long and storied history Wednesday. The home crowd had wrapped up the unlikeliest of “MVP” chants and gone home.
Flavor Flav was waiting down the hall.
At last alone in the Spurs’ locker room at the Frost Bank Center, Sandro Mamukelashvili took stock of all that had occurred in the previous three hours and uttered the question everyone else in the building – the fans, the Spurs, the New York Knicks, even Flav himself – had to have been wondering too.
“What the (expletive) was that?” Mamukelashvili asked aloud to no one in particular.
Just call it Mamu magic.
The little-used backup forward from the Republic of Georgia with the hard-to-pronounce last name exploded for a career-best 34 points to lift the Spurs to a 120-105 victory that provided a jolt of life to the stretch run of another playing-out-the-string season in San Antonio.
It also perhaps made Mamukelashvili into something of a household name across the league, provided anyone can spell it.
“It’s been hell of a ride, up and down,” said Mamukelashvili, a gregarious fourth-year pro who has been a fringe rotation player in Milwaukee and San Antonio. “I’m trying to establish myself, show everybody I belong.”
The 25-year-old Mamukelashvili was an out-of-nowhere star Wednesday.
He made 13 of his 14 field-goal attempts against the Knicks, including all seven of his 3-point tries. His lone misfire came on a block by New York’s Mitchell Robinson in the first quarter.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, alero de los Spurs de San Antonio, celebra después de realizar una clavada durante la segunda mitad del juego de baloncesto de la NBA en contra de los Knicks de Nueva York, el miércoles 19 de marzo de 2025, en San Antonio. (AP Foto/Darren Abate)
Mamukelashvili did all of that without playing a solitary second of the first or third quarters. He scored 13 of his points in the second quarter. The 21 points Mamukelashvili notched in the fourth would have constituted a season high by themselves.
Mamukelashvili totaled only 19 minutes and 26 seconds of court time, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to pocket a 30-point game while playing fewer than 20 minutes.
The other players on that list – Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love – have made All-Star teams. Mamukelashvili’s 34 points out outscored them all.
Not bad for a player who came in averaging five points per game.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” said the 6-foot-11 Mamukelashvili said, who will be seeking some sort of encore when the Spurs return to the Frost Bank Center to face Philadelphia on Friday. "I just can’t explain how I feel right now. I feel like I’m in a dream.”
Adding to the surreal nature night, Mamukelashvili put on his show with Flavor Flav seated courtside.
dubb secured
— San Antonio Spurs (@ spurs) March 20, 2025
Yes, that Flavor Flav.
The 66-year-old former Public Enemy rapper and reality TV star is (apparently) pals with Mamukelashvili.
Yes, that Mamukelashvili.
“I’m not going to lie, that is the craziest thing,” Spurs guard Keldon Johnson said of the twosome’s odd-couple relationship. “It’s the most random thing I’ve ever seen.”
Rapper Flavor Flav watches play during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
The two met through a mutual friend in 2021, when Mamukelashvili was a rookie with the Bucks at Las Vegas Summer League.
Mamukelashvili being Mamukelashvili and Flav being Flav, the pair naturally hit it off. The two FaceTime often and hang out whenever Mamukelashvili happens to be in New York.
When Flav – known by his birth certificate as William Jonathan Drayton Jr. – said he was headed to San Antonio to celebrate his birthday this week, Mamukelashvili hooked up tickets behind the Knicks’ bench.
Those who know Mamukelashvili are not entirely surprised at the peculiar friendship. If Mamukelashvili were to have his own sitcom – and after Wednesday, isn’t anything possible? – it would be called “Everyone Loves Mamu.”
“Everybody I know says they love him,” guard Blake Wesley said. “He’s a great dude, a happy person. He’s a good guy to be around.”
That was one reason the rest of the Spurs were delighted for Mamukelashvili to have his moment in the spotlight Wednesday.
He had appeared in only 46 games heading into the night, and only topped 20 minutes in an outing twice.
Even mired in a playing-time desert this season, Mamukelashvili never lost his smile or his sense of humor. He was, after all, the ringleader behind last week’s prank to have the wheels removed from rookie Stephon Castle’s car.
Mamukelashvili never stopped working as he waited for his chance.
Point guard Chris Paul was eating dinner at the Spurs Club overlooking the club’s practice gym recently when spied a lone figure on the court below getting up shots.
It was Mamukelashvili.
“He’s put in the work, day in and day out,” Paul said. “It’s always good to see something good happen to a good person like him.”
Mamukelashvili’s work ethic and preparedness are why the Spurs’ staff had no qualms about entrusting him with more minutes of late.
Having produced three straight double-digit scoring nights heading into Wednesday, Mamukelashvili appeared primed for a breakout.
Nobody – maybe not even Mamukelashvili – considered he could blow past his previous career high of 28 points, set while with Milwaukee.
“He’s a really good shooter and you’re just kind of waiting for him to have one of those games,” acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “Although I think (34 points) probably exceeded the thought of ‘one of those games.’ ”
When the Knicks carved a 28-point deficit down to eight with 7:29 to play Wednesday, it was – naturally – Mamukelashvili who nailed things shut.
He swished a pair of 3-pointers, hit Jeremy Sochan cutting for a dunk, completed a dunk of his own off a full-court pass from Keldon Johnson, nailed two more 3-pointers and then punctuated the night with a two-handed slam off a dish from Paul.
When it was over, Mamukelashvili left the floor to a standing ovation and MVP calls, only to be mobbed by his teammates during an on-court postgame interview.
Flavor Flav, of course, video bombed it.
“I really had an out-of-body experience for a little bit there,” Mamukelashvili said.
Back in his own body in the quiet of the Spurs’ cleared-out locker room later, Mamukelashvili shook his head and asked himself a question with no ready answer.
What the (expletive) was that?
Keldon Johnson knows one word for it.
“Legendary,” Johnson said. “It was a legendary night.”
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News