EuroBasket turned forgotten Spurs role players into unexpected stars

EuroBasket is wrapped up, putting a bow on yet another exciting international tournament. While this tournament is a fantastic opportunity to watch your favorite stars battle it out in the NBA offseason, it is also a trial period for bench players and roster hopefuls. With different rules, play styles, and structures featured in the tournament, a new batch of players rises to the top.

This time around, a pair of former Spurs made their mark. Stepping up to bat were Sandro Mamukelashvili and Cedi Osman. Both players were dominant during the tournament and played much higher than their NBA standards. With that, questions have been raised about whether or not these players should have been let go by the Spurs.

This pair of former Spurs were electric in EuroBasket

Kicking off a late summer success story was Mamukelashvili. Mamu was the clear team leader for his home country of Georgia and played just like it. During the tournament, the Georgia center compiled 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.

The big man was doing it all for his home country and bore a resemblance to some of the other prominent centers in the tournament: Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun. His reign of terror came to bite the Wembanyama-less France squad, taking them down in the elimination stage. Despite missing Victor, it was an overwhelmingly impressive win for Mamu and his team.

Having been let go by the Spurs this offseason, Mamukelashvili will be looking for revenge against his former team while playing for the Raptors this season.

On the other side, Osman made a huge resurgence. Playing alongside Sengun for the Turkish national team, the sharpshooter made a big statement. Scoring 16 points per game, the former Spur was letting fly and cashing it in. During the games, he scored 20 or more points three times, including a tournament-high 23 points in the final match against Germany.

Ultimately losing in the final, Osman made it clear that he's still got it. He was a significant reason that the Turkish squad made it to where they did, and with that, NBA teams may consider giving him another look. The small forward played his final NBA season with the Spurs before heading overseas in 2023-24.

Should the Spurs regret letting these players walk?

With their stark EuroBasket performances, the Spurs will be kicking themselves. In the case of Mamukelashvili, the Spurs might have made a mistake. While he struggled defensively, he consistently demonstrated his ability to be a potent offensive playmaker. While new addition Luke Kornet will be impactful on both sides coming off the bench, the Spurs may miss having Sandro's deep offensive toolbelt.

Meanwhile, Osman's dismissal was unavoidable because he decided to head overseas; however, that doesn't mean his NBA career is over. With his strong shooting showcase, the Spurs could look to add him as a deep roster shooter. While he may choose to stay the hero in a weaker league, the door could be opening back up for him in the NBA.