‘My man is on fire’ – Flavor Flav gatecrashes Spurs interview after 19-minute explosion makes NBA history
Flavor Flav was the perfect hype man for the night Sandro Mamukelashvili just had. In a surprise to everyone inside Frost Bank Center, including himself, Mamukelashvili went off in the San Antonio Spurs‘ 120-105 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. Flavor Fav could not resist and got involved in the interviewGETTY Mamukelashvili scored a career-high 34 points on 13-for-14 shooting in 19 minutes to become the first player in NBA history to score 34 points while playing less than 20 minutes. He scored 21 points in the fourth quarter alone. His remarkable performance caused the arena and Mamukelashvili’s own teammates to erupt once the final buzzer went. Dressed in a red t-shirt with his unmissable clock around his neck, rapper Flavor Flav made the night even more memorable when he crashed the Spurs forward’s interview to say, “I don’t care what nobody says. My man is on fiiiiiiiirrrreee!” After the match, Mamukelashvili was in a state of shock and understandably so, as he just had the best night of his NBA career. “I don’t know what f***ing happened,” Mamukelashvili said. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, I just can’t explain how I feel right now. I feel like I’m in a dream. I manifested and prayed for it. I just waited for this day. “I really had an out of body experience for a little bit there. I was like, ‘Is this really happening?'” It was unexpected from Mamukelashvili, give he was averaging just 8.9 minutes this season heading into Wednesday’s contest and only entered the game in the second quarter. But the night felt different from the moment he stepped out on court as the 25-year-old immediately scored a bucket, a tip-in off a Blake Wesley miss. He then drilled a 27-footer off a Stephon Castle assist to give the Spurs a seven-point lead. It was a night to remember for Sandro MamukelashviliGETTY The second quarter saw Mamukelashvili end with 13 points on a 5-of-6 shooting, including 3-3 when it came to three pointers. His form made it impossible for acting head coach Mitch Johnson to take him out of the game sooner. “13-of-14 from the field, 7-for-7 from 3, it would be ridiculous to say that was expected in 19 minutes and 26 seconds of opportunity,” Johnson said. “He’s a really good shooter, and you’re just waiting for him to have one of those games. I think that probably exceeded some of the thought of having one of those games. “But he comes to work every day. He’s the most consistent person, especially when you talk about the role that he has. That’s why you can hear a little bit of the guys [in the locker room] and their feeling for him.” At one point, Mamukelashvili was so hot, teammate Chris Paul began calling plays to ensure the Georgian-American got more looks. We’ll see if he can continue his hot hand when the Spurs host the 76ers on Friday night. NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals “Luckily, I’ve played for a while and sort of know the art of getting guys shots,” Paul said. “Mamu is an amazing teammate. He comes in and works hard every day, cheers guys on, always in a good mood, good attitude. When he’s shooting the ball like that, you just try to find the guy.” The night also saw Mamukelashvili become just the fourth player in NBA history to shoot 90% from the field, 100% on 3-pointers and 100% on free throws. The other three players on that list are Tyrese Haliburton Gary Payton and Charles Barkley. “I’m trying to get better. I’m trying to establish myself,” Mamukelashvili said. “I’m trying to show everybody that I belong. I’ll just keep taking strides towards that. I’m just so happy I have a support team behind me
Flavor Flav was the perfect hype man for the night Sandro Mamukelashvili just had.
In a surprise to everyone inside Frost Bank Center, including himself, Mamukelashvili went off in the San Antonio Spurs‘ 120-105 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
Mamukelashvili scored a career-high 34 points on 13-for-14 shooting in 19 minutes to become the first player in NBA history to score 34 points while playing less than 20 minutes.
He scored 21 points in the fourth quarter alone.
His remarkable performance caused the arena and Mamukelashvili’s own teammates to erupt once the final buzzer went.
Dressed in a red t-shirt with his unmissable clock around his neck, rapper Flavor Flav made the night even more memorable when he crashed the Spurs forward’s interview to say, “I don’t care what nobody says. My man is on fiiiiiiiirrrreee!”
After the match, Mamukelashvili was in a state of shock and understandably so, as he just had the best night of his NBA career.
“I don’t know what f***ing happened,” Mamukelashvili said.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, I just can’t explain how I feel right now. I feel like I’m in a dream. I manifested and prayed for it. I just waited for this day.
“I really had an out of body experience for a little bit there. I was like, ‘Is this really happening?'”
It was unexpected from Mamukelashvili, give he was averaging just 8.9 minutes this season heading into Wednesday’s contest and only entered the game in the second quarter.
But the night felt different from the moment he stepped out on court as the 25-year-old immediately scored a bucket, a tip-in off a Blake Wesley miss.
He then drilled a 27-footer off a Stephon Castle assist to give the Spurs a seven-point lead.
The second quarter saw Mamukelashvili end with 13 points on a 5-of-6 shooting, including 3-3 when it came to three pointers.
His form made it impossible for acting head coach Mitch Johnson to take him out of the game sooner.
“13-of-14 from the field, 7-for-7 from 3, it would be ridiculous to say that was expected in 19 minutes and 26 seconds of opportunity,” Johnson said.
“He’s a really good shooter, and you’re just waiting for him to have one of those games. I think that probably exceeded some of the thought of having one of those games.
“But he comes to work every day. He’s the most consistent person, especially when you talk about the role that he has. That’s why you can hear a little bit of the guys [in the locker room] and their feeling for him.”
At one point, Mamukelashvili was so hot, teammate Chris Paul began calling plays to ensure the Georgian-American got more looks.
We’ll see if he can continue his hot hand when the Spurs host the 76ers on Friday night.
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“Luckily, I’ve played for a while and sort of know the art of getting guys shots,” Paul said.
“Mamu is an amazing teammate. He comes in and works hard every day, cheers guys on, always in a good mood, good attitude. When he’s shooting the ball like that, you just try to find the guy.”
The night also saw Mamukelashvili become just the fourth player in NBA history to shoot 90% from the field, 100% on 3-pointers and 100% on free throws.
The other three players on that list are Tyrese Haliburton Gary Payton and Charles Barkley.
“I’m trying to get better. I’m trying to establish myself,” Mamukelashvili said.
“I’m trying to show everybody that I belong. I’ll just keep taking strides towards that. I’m just so happy I have a support team behind me
