Darko Rajaković provided some clarity on the Toronto Raptors‘ most uncertain role in his first media appearance of the 2025-26 season.
At his media day availability on Monday, the third-year head coach said Sandro Mamukelashvili is “going to be playing backup five for us.”
“He’s somebody who can really stretch the floor,” said Rajaković. “It’s really going to allow us, especially with the second unit, to go to different schemes, to look for different guys in pick-and-rolls and DHO’s (dribble handoffs) to use him spacing the floor, to use him pick-and-pop. I think that’s going to be a big difference for us this year, having that type of player that can really connect the group.”
Mamukelashvili, 26, averaged 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 11.2 minutes per game with the San Antonio Spurs in 2024-25.
This included a 34-point nine-rebound performance in only 19 minutes against the New York Knicks in March. The six-foot-11 big also helped lead Georgia to a surprise quarterfinals appearance at EuroBasket over the summer, averaging 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists, scoring 19 points and 14 points in upset wins over Spain and France, respectively.
“Signing Sandro was very important for us this off-season, because we see him as someone who really shares the values of our organization and we see him as somebody who can really compete on a higher level,” said Rajaković “I believe that he’s going to get the right opportunity, the right chance, that was not consistent with him in his first couple years in the NBA.
“I believe that he’s ready to make that next jump. Just watching him playing EuroBasket I think he did a really good job.”
Jonathan Mogbo took on the bulk of the minutes as a small-ball backup centre last season after Kelly Olynyk was moved as part of the Brandon Ingram deal at the trade deadline.
It stands to reason that Mogbo could still get looks as a big man in smaller lineups going into his sophomore year, however, at six-foot-nine he is undersized at the position.
Former Raptors Orlando Robinson and Colin Castleton also filled minutes at the five when Mogbo and Jakob Poeltl were out with injuries last season.
Poeltl, fresh off signing a four-year, $104-million contract extension, will continue to anchor the Raptors frontcourt. Mamukelashvili will provide a different look off the bench as a less traditional centre who can both drive the ball and space the floor as a 34.8 per cent career three-point shooter.
Leaning harder on depth players was a growing trend around the NBA last season and it appears the Raptors will follow suit.
“I believe that this year we do have a deeper roster and we have more guys that can contribute night in and night out,” said Rajaković. “That’s the dream for every coach. It’s not going to be an easy decision night in and night out. But that’s a problem I’m looking forward to having. The competition inside the team is really going to help guys have to stay constantly on. I like to play 10 guys and even 11 guys in the rotation.”
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