LOS ANGELES — When the Los Angeles Lakers reshaped their frontcourt, national headlines predictably focused on rim protection and rebounding. Yet, the addition of Lakers’ Walker Kessler and Sandro Mamukelashvili has quietly unlocked a brand-new tactical superpower for LA: genuine high-volume three-point shooting from the center position. For a franchise historically reliant on paint-bound bigs, trotting out five-man units that pull opposing rim protectors to the perimeter completely alters the spacing around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Sandro Mamukelashvili’s Historical Floor-Spacing
To understand why Sandro Mamukelashvili represents such a unique threat, you have to look at what the 6’9″, 240-pound big man accomplished last season in Toronto. He delivered one of the cleanest perimeter shooting campaigns from a big man in recent memory, hitting 38.9% from three on 296 attempts (3.7 per game). Sandro Mamukelashvili finished the year with 115 made threes while averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in under 22 minutes per contest.
Place that statistical profile against Lakers history, and the contrast is striking:
- Brian Cook (Mid-2000s): Posted a 39.2% mark from deep as a Laker with a 42.9% peak season, but operated primarily as a hybrid power forward in a smaller role.
- Marc Gasol (2020-21): Shot 41.0% from three, but did so on minimal volume as a tactical curveball rather than an everyday threat.
- Anthony Davis: His jumper peaked during the 2020 Orlando bubble run before steadily regressing outside the paint.
No traditional center in franchise history has combined this level of volume, efficiency, and secondary playmaking in a single season.
Lakers’ Walker Kessler and Sandro Mamukelashvili’s Tactical Fit in JJ Redick’s System
What makes this profile elite is how smoothly it fits what head coach JJ Redick is building. Of Mamukelashvili’s 115 made threes last season, 90 came from above the break—and every single one came off an assist. He is an elite floor processor who takes high-value shots provided by the system without halting ball movement.
Expect JJ Redick to feature these perimeter traits in Chicago actions, Zoom sets, double drags, and Ghost screens. Forcing opposing centers out to the three-point line clears out the lane, giving Dončić endless downhill driving angles.
Walker Kessler’s Emerging Perimeter Upside
The three-ball upgrade doesn’t stop on the bench unit. One of the least talked-about developments in Walker Kessler’s game is his emerging three-point potential. Kessler flashed genuine upside by connecting on 6 of his 8 three-point attempts across a 5-game stretch last season.
Integrating a pick-and-pop element for Kessler—whether in transition trailing plays, corner setups, or flares—gives the Lakers a dangerous dual-threat frontcourt. Having two centers capable of stretching the floor ensures the offense remains dynamic for all 48 minutes.
The Verdict
While both big men still have to establish this chemistry on the floor in Los Angeles, Lakers’ Walker Kessler and Sandro Mamukelashvili give the franchise a multi-dimensional frontcourt unlike anything seen in past generations. If this shooting holds, LA’s center rotation won’t just look modern—it will be a nightmare for rival coaches to scout.
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