If there is one position where the Raptors have had to navigate the most this season, it is definitely the center spot and Toronto's overall depth of size and bigs.
Jakob Poeltl, the Raptors' starting center, has missed extended stretches during the 2025-26 season. Only now are we finally seeing the big fella from Austria working his way back to a rejuvenated form and productive stretch of games.
Meanwhile, the Raptors' other option at the position has mostly been Collin Murray-Boyles, their 2025 lottery pick. CMB has left an impressive and impactful presence despite it being his first season in the pros. However, he has also battled injuries frequently and is currently out with a thumb injury. Though, there is optimism Murray-Boyles will return at some point during this road trip.
That brings me to the main focus of this piece and the individual on the Raptors roster whom ESPN named the team's 'unsung hero' in a recent NBA Power Rankings article: Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Sandro Mamukelashvili is ESPN’s pick for the Raptors’ unsung hero
Mamu has been very reliable in his role, whether he's been a dynamic big off the bench or stepping in as the starting five-man. To date, he’s played 12 games in this capacity. While the absences of Poeltl and CMB have been felt, having a player like Mamukelashvili has been a real positive. He offers a different archetype from those two, bringing a fresh breath of air to the Raptors’ lineup.
At the same time, the pressure of sometimes being a key big could be a weight resting too heavily on Mamukelashvili’s shoulders. It's been suggested that this pushed him into a larger role that may not be best suited to bring out his full potential, as my Raptors Rapture colleague Daniel O’Connor recently pointed out.
His slump as of late in the last ten games, shooting the three-ball rather poorly and not looking as impactful in the Raptors' contests against more formidable opponents, might not necesarily be entirely his fault, and the silver lining at hand is that at least this Raptors squad is finally working back to full strength and good health.
That said, Mamu has still managed to carve out a spot for his efforts on the season as a whole, being the fifth-leading scorer, the fourth-best three-point shooter, and the third-most active player in the 2025-26 Raptors outlook. He’s suited up for 66 of the 68 games so far, where that reliability and presence in the lineup is something the Raptors have really needed. Just imagine if he had also been hit by the injury bug for an extended period — Toronto would be gravely missing an important edge to keep things within reach.
I've seen the "hidden gem" tagline thrown in Mamu's way before, and that's definitely one way to view his time with the Raptors so far. I think the "unsung hero" angle offers a completely different perspective. It highlights how his efforts have been crucial in helping the Raptors maintain a competitive spirit, and I would definitely agree. If we’re not emphasizing some of the more obvious heroes like Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram this season, then there’s no question that Sandro Mamukelashvili absolutely deserves to be recognized as the team’s unsung hero.