Sandro Mamukelashvili reflects on his admiration for Kobe Bryant

Sandro Mamukelashvili, a new addition to the Los Angeles Lakers, expressed his long-standing admiration for Kobe Bryant during Lakers Media Day. Mamukelashvili, who grew up in Georgia, noted he idolized Bryant and was influenced by his work ethic and mentality. The 6-foot-9 forward-center, who averaged 11.2 points last season with the Toronto Raptors, aims to contribute significantly to the Lakers’ success. Signed to a four-year contract in July, Mamukelashvili is expected to play a versatile role on the team as the regular season approaches.

• 1:12 AMYahoo Sports — Sandro Mamukelashvili says he grew up a big Kobe Bryant fan