Lakers Newcomer Sandro Mamukelashvili Admits What Everyone Else Was Thinking About Those Messi Photos

Sometimes you just have to laugh and admit it. That’s basically what new Lakers forward Sandro Mamukelashvili did this week when he hopped on social media and quote-tweeted a viral moment involving Cape Verde’s national soccer team.

After Argentina beat Cape Verde on July 3, several Cape Verde players posted photos from the match on Instagram. Thing is, a lot of those pictures happened to feature them alongside Lionel Messi. You know, arguably the greatest soccer player to ever lace up cleats. The internet ate it up, with plenty of fans joking that they’d absolutely do the same thing if they were in those players’ shoes.

Mamukelashvili clearly felt the same way. He tweeted, I would do it too with three laughing emojis attached. Pretty straightforward. No deep analysis. Just a guy being real.

A Viral Moment That Hit Close to Home

The original post from Winna F.C. showed screenshots of the Cape Verde players’ Instagram stories. Each one featured Messi in the frame after the loss. The caption read: Cabo Verde players on IG.😂♥️ Fans immediately piled on, not to mock the players but because it was such a relatable move. Getting a photo with Messi after a game, even a loss, is a memory you keep forever. Most people would do it. Mamukelashvili just said it out loud.

It’s the kind of lighthearted moment that reminds you these guys are fans too. Mamukelashvili grew up in Georgia before moving to the U.S. for college at Seton Hall. He’s been around the NBA long enough to know that sometimes the best move is just being honest.

A New Chapter in Los Angeles

Mamukelashvili agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with the Lakers when free agency opened, leaving the Toronto Raptors behind. That comes out to around $13 million a year, which feels like a solid bet for a guy who finally got a real chance to play rotation minutes last season.

In Toronto, he put up 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game on 52.3 percent shooting from the floor and 38.9 percent from three on nearly four attempts per game. Those numbers came in about 22 minutes a night. That’s production. That’s efficiency. That’s the kind of stuff the Lakers need, especially after losing LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes this offseason.

So yeah, the Lakers roster looks a lot different now. Mamukelashvili should have a legitimate shot at contributing meaningful minutes for a team that still has championship expectations. He’ll bring shooting, some size, and apparently a willingness to keep it real on Twitter. That’s not nothing.