SI

Spurs Reserve Comes off Bench to Set Surprising NBA Scoring Record

Sandro Mamukelashvili scored at an incredible pace.

Kyle Koster

Rapper Flavor Flav congratulates San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) after scoring thirty four points against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center.
Rapper Flavor Flav congratulates San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) after scoring thirty four points against the New York Knicks at Frost Bank Center. / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
In this story:

Sandro Mamukelashvili plays 9.1 minutes per game for the San Antonio Spurs and came into Wednesday night's game averaging 5.6 points. so not many people had their eyes fixed on him going into the matchup against the New York Knicks. But the 6'11" lefty went off to a historic length, setting an NBA record by pouring in 34 points in just 19 minutes of action.

It's the highest total of any player getting less than 20 minutes of floor time since 1951-52 when minutes became an official stat. It's sort of funny to think that they didn't use to keep track of minutes but then again the concept of load management was just a glimmer in someone's eye 73 years ago.

"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Mamukelashvili said after the game. "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?'"

To sweeten the deal, Mamukelashvili happened to have the game of his life with his good friend Flava Flav sitting courtside. It's unclear how looking at the rapper's enormous timepiece helped the Spurs big man maximize his efficiency but one has to think it played some small role.

The postgame scenes were great as Mamukelashvili was mobbed by his teammates and seemed genuinely thrilled by the unexpected night.

Always a good reminder that the completely unexpected can happen.

More NBA on Sports Illustrated

Published
Kyle Koster
KYLE KOSTER

Kyle Koster is an assistant managing editor at Sports Illustrated covering the intersection of sports and media. He was formerly the editor in chief of The Big Lead, where he worked from 2011 to '24. Koster also did turns at the Chicago Sun-Times, where he created the Sports Pros(e) blog, and at Woven Digital.

Home/NBA