The Milwaukee Bucks hosting the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night will allow them to rekindle an old flame with one of their former players. Sandro Mamukelashvili may not have made a significant impact on the squad during his brief time in Milwaukee, but there’s no denying that the 6-foot-11 big man left quite an impression on the fans.
Now that he’s with the Spurs, Mamu has established himself as an endearing figure not only to the supporters, but to his team as well. Just ask head coach Gregg Popovich.
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Heaps Praise on Ex-Milwaukee Bucks Big Man
Coach Pop had nothing but kind words for Mamukelashvili, who the Bucks scooped up in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. Milwaukee waived the Georgian in March of last year, which allowed the Spurs to claim him from the waiver wire a couple of days after he parted ways with the Bucks.
Mamu has since been plying his trade in San Antonio, where he has earned the admiration of Popovich:
“He’s the same guy you remember,” Popovich said, via Gabe Stoltz of Brew Hoop. “He’s always got a smile on his face. He’s been a great teammate. He stays every practice and goes 3-on-3 with the guys that aren’t playing very much and never shows any kind of attitude about that.
“He likes wine. He brings me Georgian wine so I like him for that, too. He’s a great kid.”
Mamu Has Popovich Questioning Himself
In 10 appearances for the Spurs this season, Mamukelashvili has averaged just 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.8 minutes per game. He hasn’t exactly been able to earn enough minutes to make a significant impact for San Antonio, but it appears that this could change soon.
According to Popovich, Mamu has done so well in the NBA G League that the legendary coach has been left questioning his own decision on the 24-year-old’s playing time:
“As far as basketball goes, we sent him to the G League a couple games and he goes down there and scores 25 or 30,” Coach Pop noted. “He’s always on my mind. Am I missing something? Should I be playing this guy more? He’s one of those guys. He’s kept his edge and we’ll see what the future holds.”
For what it’s worth, Victor Wembanyama isn’t playing on Tuesday due to a minor injury, so perhaps Mamu can get an extended run against the Bucks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many championships does Popovich have?
Gregg Popovich, the esteemed head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, has triumphed in the NBA Finals five times. His championship victories occurred in the years 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014, solidifying his legacy in basketball history.
Who is the longest coach in the NBA?
Gregg Popovich, currently coaching the San Antonio Spurs, holds the title as the longest-tenured NBA coach. In the upcoming 2023-24 season, he will embark on his 27th year, marking the longest coaching duration in NBA history.
