Newly acquired Los Angeles Lakers forward Sandro Mamukelashvili has expressed optimism about the team's chemistry, citing the positive impact of an offseason trip to Slovenia. Mamukelashvili, who has yet to play in an official NBA game for the Lakers, described the experience as instrumental in integrating the new players.
"It was great for the new team. It was a bunch of new guys on the team, and you know, all of us being together, it didn’t even feel like it was a lot of new guys," Mamukelashvili said in an interview with Deondre Hawkins of ESPN. He added that the team jelled well during the trip, leaving him and his teammates excited for the upcoming season.
The organization's planning for the trip to Luka Dončić's home country was also commended by Mamukelashvili. "First of all, shoutout to Luka. I think the organization was amazing, the way they planned everything," he noted. "They showed us a lot of great places, and Ljubljana is a really, really nice city."
Beyond the team's international excursion, Mamukelashvili and his teammates have engaged in other offseason activities, including golf. When asked about the team's best golfers, Mamukelashvili mentioned hearing positive remarks about Bronny James's skills and dedication to the sport.
Mamukelashvili joins the Lakers as a veteran player with six years of NBA experience, having previously played for the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, and Toronto Raptors. In his most recent season, he averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
The Lakers are scheduled to report for training camp on September 29, with the NBA season approaching rapidly. The team is navigating a period of transition, including new ownership in the upcoming 2026-2027 season and a shift in leadership following LeBron James's departure during the offseason.