Back to the trend of the day: Collin Sexton compares Lakers newcomer Sandro Mamukelashvili to Kevin Love

Poly Rating · from the trend of the day

Best Backup Bigs in the NBA 2026-27

Sandro Mamukelashvili took nearly half his shots from three last season (a .469 rate) and made 38.9% of them, which is why a new Lakers teammate compares him to Kevin Love.

No. 1: Sandro Mamukelashvili
9 places
Current as of October 22, 2026, 02:56 EDT

01Final list

The leading AIs each built their own list of ten independently. Here is one result that is easy to check: every place has a reason, a source, and the list of AIs that included it.

Order: from most to least AI agreement.

A bright badge means this AI put the entry on its list. A dim badge means it did not.

1
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Shoots and passes like Love: .389 on a .469 three-point rate, 3.1 assists per 36. Two sources confirm the shooting, but his defense and Lakers role are unproven.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nova.
In their lists: Claude: 3 · ChatGPT: 1 · Meta: 1 · Gemini: 3 · Nova
What each AI noted 5
- Claudeplace 3
  Nearly half his shots are threes (.469 rate, .389 accuracy), and a new teammate compares him to Kevin Love.
  Source ↗
- ChatGPTplace 1
  The most intriguing connector in this group: his appeal is the combination of a big man's passing angles and a forward's willingness to shoot.
  Source ↗
- Metaplace 1
  11.2 pts on 38.9% from 3 with 1.9 ast and point-guard grabs – Sexton comp to Love as Lakers second-unit engine
  Source ↗
- Geminiplace 3
  Draws direct Kevin Love comparisons from backcourt partner Collin Sexton after registering 5.6 potential assists per 36 and 38.5% catch-and-shoot accuracy.
  Source ↗
- Nova
  Named differently in its own list: open the full list.
5 AIs put it here
Source ↗
2
Naz Reid
A true reserve in 2025-26 (3 starts) who took 5.8 threes a game at .362, but he had only 3.0 assists per 36, and Charlotte may start him now.
Included it: Claude, ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini. Did not include: Nova.
In their lists: Claude: 2 · ChatGPT: 2 · Meta: 3 · Gemini: 1
What each AI noted 4
- Claudeplace 2
  A bench big who took 5.8 threes a game at .362 and started only 3 games in 2025-26, so he is a true reserve.
  Source ↗
- ChatGPTplace 2
  A reserve scorer who can change the geometry of a possession without requiring the offense to turn him into its primary creator.
  Source ↗
- Metaplace 3
  13.6 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.2 ast on 36.2% deep – former guard skills in 6'11 frame now starting in Charlotte
  Source ↗
- Geminiplace 1
  Won Sixth Man of the Year by launching 41.4% from three on 5.0 attempts while driving 4.3 potential assists per 36 off secondary closeouts.
4 AIs put it here
Source ↗
3
Bobby Portis
Pure gravity: 45.6% from three in 2025-26 per Bleacher Report (StatMuse's filter shows 47.4%). But 1.6 assists a game makes him a finisher, not a hub.
Included it: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini. Did not include: Claude, Nova.
In their lists: ChatGPT: 3 · Meta: 4 · Gemini: 8
What each AI noted 3
- ChatGPTplace 3
  A second-unit scorer with real spacing value, though a defense cannot assume his offensive production automatically solves its rim-protection problem.
  Source ↗
- Metaplace 4
  45.6% from 3 led power forwards in 2025-26 – 46% on pull-up threes gives second units pure gravity
  Source ↗
- Geminiplace 8
  Commands legitimate gravity by hoisting a .335 three-point attempt rate at 40.7% accuracy, pulling rim-protectors out of the paint for reserve penetrators.
3 AIs put it here
Source ↗
4
Isaiah Hartenstein
Short-roll passer with 3.5 assists and 9.4 rebounds a game, but he has no three-point shot, so the lineup needs its spacing from someone else.
Included it: ChatGPT, Meta. Did not include: Claude, Gemini, Nova.
In their lists: ChatGPT: 4 · Meta: 5
What each AI noted 2
- ChatGPTplace 4
  One of the best passing centers in a reserve-style role, but his lack of established three-point gravity is a meaningful limitation for this particular ranking.
  Source ↗
- Metaplace 5
  9.2 pts, 9.4 reb, 3.5 ast – elite short-roll passer with 4.0 apg this season despite zero spacing
  Source ↗
2 AIs put it here
Source ↗
5
Santi Aldama
A 7-footer who passes (3.8 assists per 36) and spaces the floor (4.7 threes a game at .350), mostly off the bench. A March knee procedure is the caveat.
Included it: Claude, Meta. Did not include: ChatGPT, Gemini, Nova.
In their lists: Claude: 4 · Meta: 6
What each AI noted 2
- Claudeplace 4
  A 7-footer with 3.8 assists per 36 and 4.7 threes a game, mostly off the bench (11 starts).
  Source ↗
- Metaplace 6
  14.0 pts, 6.7 reb, 2.9 ast and 1.6 threes in 27.9 min – 6'11 connector before March knee procedure
  Source ↗
2 AIs put it here
Source ↗
6
Dario Saric
A handoff hub off the bench: 4.7 assists per 36, but that figure is from 2023-24, not last season. He had 3 assists in 15 recent preseason minutes as a backup center.
Included it: Meta, Gemini. Did not include: Claude, ChatGPT, Nova.
In their lists: Meta: 10 · Gemini: 7
What each AI noted 2
- Metaplace 10
  Per-36: 16.9 pts, 9.3 reb, 4.7 ast, 2.4 threes – Jokic-lite backup archetype who brings ball up off handoffs
  Source ↗
- Geminiplace 7
  Converts 37.6% from deep and dishes 5.4 potential assists per 36 as a stationary elbow fulcrum who punishes collapsed zones.
  Source ↗
2 AIs put it here
Source ↗
7
Jusuf Nurkic
Best reserve passing line here at 6.5 assists per 36 and a 25.4 AST%, up from 16.4 for his career. But he took only 1.7 threes a game.
Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nova.
In their lists: Claude: 5
What each AI noted 1
- Claudeplace 5
  His 6.5 assists per 36 and 25.4 AST% in 2025-26 were far above his career 3.9, the best reserve passing line here.
  Source ↗
1 AIs put it here
Source ↗
8
Jock Landale
A 6-11 spacer who shot .383 from three (39.1% per Roundtable), but 2.7 assists per 36 and limited lateral mobility keep him short of hub status.
Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nova.
In their lists: Claude: 7
What each AI noted 1
- Claudeplace 7
  Shot 38.3% from three in 2025-26 (39.1% in the Roundtable piece), but his 2.7 assists per 36 are modest for a passer.
  Source ↗
1 AIs put it here
Source ↗
9
Brook Lopez
Spacing from a 7-1 rim protector: 58.5% of his shots were threes (.360). But he had 2.1 assists per 36, and his current role is unchecked.
Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nova.
In their lists: Claude: 9
What each AI noted 1
- Claudeplace 9
  58.5% of his shots were threes in 2025-26 at .360, which gives the second unit spacing that comes with a 7-1 frame.
  Source ↗
1 AIs put it here
Source ↗

More about the top three ↓

02More about the top three

The ranking is above. Here is more about the three places at the top: what they are, why they are here, and what is worth knowing.

The three are compared on shooting and passing numbers from different sources; Portis's 45.6% is from Bleacher Report, while StatMuse's filter shows 47.4%.

1Sandro Mamukelashvili

No. 1 — Sandro Mamukelashvili. On the lists of 5 of 5 AIs; median place there: 2. The AIs liked that he shoots a lot of threes and passes like a playmaker, a mix compared to Kevin Love.

Did you know

On March 19, 2025, Mamukelashvili scored a career-high 34 points for the Spurs against the Knicks in only 19 minutes off the bench. Wikipedia says this broke the record for most points in a game playing under 20 minutes.
Source ↗

What it is: A Lakers backup big who shoots threes and makes passes.
Its edge: Passes more per minute than Reid or Portis while still shooting well from three.
Who it suits: Suits benches that want a passing shooter; his defense and Lakers role are unproven.

Three-point shooting38.9% from 3

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

Shooting is his edge: with Toronto in 2025-26 he made 115 of 296 threes, a .389 average. That was 3.7 tries a game over 80 games, enough volume to pull a defender out of the paint.
Source ↗
He passes more than most big men who shoot: 151 assists in 1,751 minutes, or 1.9 a game in 21.9 minutes. His assists per minute are higher than Reid's or Portis's, which is why he is first.
Source ↗

Did you know

In 2021 he shared the Big East Player of the Year award with two Villanova players. It was the first time in the league's 42-year history that three players shared the honor.
Source ↗

History

Drafted 54th overall in 2021 and traded to Milwaukee, he was waived by the Bucks on March 1, 2023. San Antonio claimed him off waivers that March and gave him a standard contract.
Source ↗

Keep in mind

One report says his defensive limits are known: "He is not considered a strong perimeter or interior defender." It says he could play center in small lineups. His deal is four years, $52 million.
Source ↗

Where to go further

Open his Basketball Reference page and start with the 2025-26 row: 80 games, 3.7 threes a game, .389 from three. Then check the career rows for how his shooting changed over time. — (voice only)
Source ↗

Video: How Sandro Mamukelashvili Changes The Lakers · Lakers Nation

Compare the top three ↓

2Naz Reid

No. 2 — Naz Reid. On the lists of 4 of 5 AIs; median place there: 2. The AIs saw a true bench scorer who spaces the floor without needing the offense built around him.

Naz Reid (51733687822) (cropped) — All-Pro Reels · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know

Naz Reid won 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year and was the first Timberwolves player to win it. He also became only the third undrafted winner, after John Starks in 1997 and Darrell Armstrong in 1999.
Source ↗ ✓ confirmed by several AIs

What it is: A bench big and former Sixth Man of the Year, now likely a starter.
Its edge: Blocks the most shots per game of the three and takes many threes.
Who it suits: Suits teams that want a bench scorer; his passing is modest and his role is changing.

Three-point shooting36.2% from 3

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

He gives some rim protection and passing in 26.1 minutes a game: 1.0 blocks (78 total) and 2.2 assists (170 total). Among the three, he has the most blocks per game on his page.
Source ↗

Keep in mind

He is expected to start in Charlotte, which would be his first NBA starting role after years off the bench. Last season he had 2.2 assists a game and shot 36.2% from three, per this page.
Source ↗

What people say

"The initial phone call from my agent a couple days before, it was a little shocking. But it's a business, and it's kind of how it goes." — Naz Reid
Source ↗

Where to go further

Start with the 2025-26 row: 77 games, 3 starts, 5.8 threes a game at .362. Then compare the starts column across his seasons to see when his role moved from bench to starter. — (voice only)
Source ↗

Gemini put it first. What they saw in it

Gemini: Won Sixth Man of the Year by launching 41.4% from three on 5.0 attempts while driving 4.3 potential assists per 36 off secondary closeouts.

Video: Naz Reid Discusses Why the Wolves Love Defending and Anthony Edwards · The Old Man and The Three

Compare the top three ↓

3Bobby Portis

No. 3 — Bobby Portis. On the lists of 3 of 5 AIs; median place there: 4. The AIs valued his very accurate shooting, which pulls defenders away from the rim, but he passes little and blocks few shots.

Did you know

Portis once stepped in for an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference Finals against Atlanta. It was his first career playoff start. He scored 22 points with 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, and the crowd chanted "Bobby."
Source ↗

What it is: A veteran big who scores off the bench and shoots threes well.
Its edge: Best three-point percentage of the three, but the weakest passing.
Who it suits: Suits teams needing a finisher; less useful if you want a passing hub.

Three-point shooting45.6% from 3

Wikipedia · Wikidata

Why it is here

He is more finisher than passer: 105 assists in 1,619 minutes over 67 games. He also blocked only 12 shots all season, so his place comes from shooting, not from passing or rim protection.
Source ↗

History

In October 2017 Bobby Portis punched teammate Nikola Mirotic at Bulls practice, breaking facial bones and causing a concussion. The Bulls suspended him for the first eight games of the season.
Source ↗

Keep in mind

He is 31 and was traded to Miami from Milwaukee, ending a six-year run there. The page says he helped the Bucks win the 2021 title. It gives no shooting numbers, so check those separately.
Source ↗

What people say

"It would have been different if I got traded by myself to a team where I didn't know anybody" — Bobby Portis
Source ↗

Where to go further

Look at the 2025-26 row first: 67 games, 4.4 threes a game at .456. That row lists MIL, while the bio says Miami Heat, so check the team column in each season. — (voice only)
Source ↗

Video: Bobby Portis Shares This AMAZING Story About How He Wound Up On The Bucks (Gave Us Legit Chills) · The Old Man and The Three

Compare the top three ↓

The top three side by side

	Sandro Mamukelashvili	Naz Reid	Bobby Portis
In the AIs' lists	5 / 5	4 / 5	3 / 5
Three-point shooting	38.9% from 3	36.2% from 3	45.6% from 3
Put first by	ChatGPT, Meta	Gemini	—

Places with the same number of AIs are ordered by their average place in the AIs' own lists.

03Worth knowing

What the AIs noticed while building the list.

Nurkic's assist rate jumped from 16.4% for his career to 25.4% in 2025-26 with Utah, the biggest passing jump among these reserves.

Noticed by:

Included it: Claude. Did not include: ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini, Nova.

01Final list

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Naz Reid

Bobby Portis

Isaiah Hartenstein

Santi Aldama

Dario Saric

Jusuf Nurkic

Jock Landale

Brook Lopez

02More about the top three

1Sandro Mamukelashvili

Did you know

2Naz Reid

Did you know

3Bobby Portis

Did you know

The top three side by side

More ratings

03Worth knowing

04How we counted

1The question

2Why this topic

3Where it applies

4What we looked at

5Who ranked

6How the places were set

05Each AI's own list

What Claude noticed

What ChatGPT noticed

What Meta noticed

What Gemini noticed