Sandro Mamukelashvili opens up on joining Lakers, life in LA

LAS VEGAS — It’ll be another three months before Sandro Mamukelashvili takes his first real shot for the Los Angeles Lakers — his main quest after signing with the franchise shortly after free agency started last week.

But on Saturday night, while the Lakers’ Summer League team was taking on the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas & Mack Center, Mamukelashvili took other kinds of shots for his new team. 

Sandro Mamukelashvili joined the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency on a 4-year, $52 million contract. NBAE via Getty Images

Mamukelashvili became the latest NBA player to trade in his jersey for a photographer’s camera, shooting the first half of Saturday’s game from the first row of the courtside media section inside of the arena. 

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“I love doing extra stuff,” Mamukelashvili told The California Post. “They call me Side Quest King. So I definitely love it. I’m enjoying it. I’m learning a lot.”

Harboring an interest in photography, Mamukelashvili (“Sometimes I try to take artsy pictures that don’t make [any] sense,” he said. “But I’ve got to explain to people why they’re good.”) quickly found out the challenges of the craft.

He exclaimed “Ahh, I missed it!” after Arthur Kaluma’s pump-and-drive layup four-and-a-half minutes into the game. 

Mamukelashvili joined the Lakers at Summer League to serve as team photographer during a game. Khobi Price for the CA Post

He talked about how much he liked to zoom in, but realized he had to find the balance of how far to zoom in and how much space to give his subject. 

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By the second quarter, he started stretching out his wrists as the weight of the camera started to set in.

“Oh my god, it’s crazy how hard is it to hold the camera steady at the same time, make sure you zoom in correctly, zoom out,” Mamukelashvili told The Post. “Definitely need some strength on your wrist, it’s tough.”

During a Lakers fastbreak in the first quarter, he said out loud to himself: “Run run run … give me action.” Later, he added, “I’m ready … I’m ready.”

Eager to show off his work, Mamukelashvili sat in the press row to share it with reporters. Khobi Price for the CA…

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Publish date : 2026-07-12 23:35:00

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