This is a shame if he isn't playing. IMO the most impressive of all the players in the summer league.
He could've been the long awaited three that the Spurs have needed..
The Spurs traded a 2nd round pick for this guy, not a huge deal.
What's amazing is, post Parker and Manu, for the vaunted overseas pipeline, the Spurs may wind up with exactly 000000 players: Javtokas, Scola, Sanikidze, Mahinmi, Splitter.
With timvp a bit down on Mahinmi lately and Splitter at least in fantasies traded. Hopefully we can see him in uniform at least next year.
I've found back Sanikidze.
Sanikidze has played today in Georgian league, a very weak league. I think it's his first game of the season.
http://www.gbf.ge/news.php?m=news&lang=eng#
Sanikidze (15 pts. 14 rbs. 4 blcks. 2 asts. 2 stls)As for the San Antonio Spurs draftee Viqtor Sanikidze, the forward was great on defence and made two crusial long shots in the last quarter.
EDIT : In fact, it was his second game.
Sanikidze played a game one week ago (7 pts. 9 rbs. 1 stl. 1 blck). He then missed two games because of an injury before coming back today.
Last edited by Bruno; 02-10-2008 at 03:54 PM.
Sounds like a CIA placement.
All the news about him is injuries.
Sounds like he's found his level of compe ion. Why hide him? He's the Spurs property. It strikes me that if they thought he was worth bringing over next year, they'd either have him in the DLeague where the coaching staff has access to him right up the road and he's playing against NBA prospects, or they'd have him in a better European league.
Any updates on Viktor? Anyone know why he isn't on the Toros this season?
Seems to a real balla, but injury prone.
correct me if i'm wrong, but he'd have to go on the 15-man roster to play in the d-league and remain spurs' property (a la Ian), wouldn't he?
That's a pretty nice line from the SF position even in a weak league, he isn't a scorer and never will be. The blocks and boards are nice.Sanikidze (15 pts. 14 rbs. 4 blcks. 2 asts. 2 stls)
I think the Spurs need to have him at training camp and then d-league him next year. Hiding a player you hold the rights to as some are suggesting doesn't really make any sense. There's nothing to lose by showing him off if he is a player.
It's possible that he plays PF in this league.
His stats for his third game :
Sanikidze (18 pts. 8 rbs. 3 asts. 2 stls)
I don't know what happened in Sanikidze life (maybe an injury) but it's kinda disappointing to see him ending up in the georgian league.
I hope he will soon play at an higher level. The only positive is that he gets a lot of playing time for the first time since 2005.
doesnt he have ankle problems
only reason spurs probably stashin him in euro so other teams dunno about him when trades comes up
Why is everyone so high on Sanikidze? I wrote him off a couple years back--does he have a legitimate chance of making the NBA. Maybe I'm ignorant, but I assumed that ship had sailed.
Aside from Mahinmi and Splitter, I once had hopes that Javtokas could be a 5th big for the Spurs. But he's not even playing that much in Europe and looks like a lost caused too.
Sanikidze is about as good as Karaulov at this point.
He played pretty well in summer league. I guess we'll see if he shows up again in July.
I've suspected for awhile now that Sanikidze has some off-the-court personality issues.
After Newman refused to even play him in some SL games even though he showed he was legit enough for summer ball, after Sanikidze couldnt-or-wouldn't play for any euro teams for months, finally playing in his homeland for what is no doubt peanuts compared to what he could have made elsewhere if he had worked hard enough . . .
There's probably something going on with him that isn't basketball.
I think more at injury troubles.
Sanikidze missed the whole 2005-2006 year because of a ankle injury.
He tweaks his ankle twice last summer : one time with Spurs SL team and another time with Georgian NT.
He has played in Georgian championship since 4 games and has still missed one game because of an injury.
It's possible that he has a lot of trouble to stay healthy. This summer, Sanikidze was quite good with Spurs SL team and Georgian NT when he was healthy.
I agree, he was quite good with the Spurs summer league, I thought he was a breath of fresh air with how he played.
But he got at least 1 DNP-CD during the summer league if I remember correctly, during the first summer league that was broadcast on the net (vegas?). I remember wondering why Newman would play summer league scrubs and keep Sanikidze, Spurs property, on the bench all game long. Maybe it was injury, though he looked fine the rest of the games. Or maybe he was late flying in to begin with the team, or maybe something else.
http://www.eurobasket.com/geo/geo.asp
Eurobasket Georgia made an interview with Viktor Sanikidze on February 12th in Tbilisi. So, read on!
Q. Viktor, first question I want to ask you is pretty rhetorical and I need your short answer. Let me ask you what are you doing in Tbilisi?
V.S. I had rehabilitation period for two months. Now I started practice with Dinamo Tbilisi and I am waiting for the final answer of physicians to confirm that I am fully recovered.
Q. How seriously you were injured?
V.S. Pretty seriously. I went in Germany for try out and on one practice I didn't feel good on my knee. So, I checked my knee with German doctors and they told me to stop playing, otherwise I would risk my career.
Q. There are many gossips about your current team. You played this round in Georgian League with Dinamo Tbilisi. Koln 99ers got bankrupted and you left from Estudiantes as well. Will Spurs Free Agent player end current season in Georgian League?
V.S. I don't think so because for me is better to try my forces in any better teams in Europe, just to end up this season.
Q. Last year Georgian compassionates were mad about your brief playing minutes in Estudiantes. How you comment on that?
V.S. I didn't like that too. (Smiles) There were many reasons that I was not playing much. First of all I arrived in Spain later because I was called in Georgian National Team. Than I talked with general manager and assistant coach and they didn't know why I was not playing. I thought that I was not good on practices but nobody mentioned that to me. Afterwards team management fired a head coach and assistant coach went up to the head coach position. He gave me more minutes than. Later I had a surgery on my appendix.
Q. Your brief comment on qualification games with National Team?
V.S. First of all I liked a coach. He trusted me and he let me play pretty much. I am always proud to play in my National Team. We disappointed every Georgian and that is our fault. We had not to lose against National Team of Iceland. There were many little things on that game but I don't even want to remind that. I really think that Georgia deserves Division A. and we will make it happen.
RE: Like you did it on U20 right?
V.S. (Smiles) Exactly.
Q. 42nd overall pick in 2004, MVP of U20 European Championships, key player of the Georgian National Team. Is it you Viktor?
V.S. I guess. Ya, that's me... (Laughs)
Q. Viktor, do you have any ideas so far regarding your future club from the next season?
V.S. I do not really care my future European team at this time, as I am very focused on NBA Summer League for San Antonio Spurs.
Q. You are fifth player in the NBA from Georgia; if we include Iokovos Tsakalidis whose origin is Georgia. What do you think who will be the next one in Georgians list in the NBA?
V.S. I think that Manuchar Markoishvili and Giorgi Tsintsadze because its their last chance to get drafted as they will not be eligible next year. I think that they both will be late second round picks.
Q. What about Giorgi Shermadini?
V.S. Giorgi is very talented player with bright future. I am not really familiar about his plans, but if he puts his name on draft board he has to make it.
Q. And when we should expect to see Viktor Sanikidze hosting the games in AT&T Center?
V.S. I think that I will make it happen this year. (Laughs)
Well, thank you very much Viktor. I wish every success in your LIFE and career and hope to see you next time in San Antonio.
Now we have some answer abut what happened to Sanikidze. He has really a hard time with all these injuries. We will see what he will do with Spurs SL team.
Sanikidze doesn't play this week end with his team in Georgian league. Maybe he is on his way to a better team in Europe.
Thanks Bruno. Appendix, knee?!? Hope he doesn't turn into an injury prone sort.
i think his still worth a try in the summer see what happens
plz dont let him be a busts like that euro dude the nuggets picked a few seasons ago with t here top10 pick
I used the Spurs website contact point some time ago to ask about Sanikidze and where he was playing and if not, why not.
I got no response. i wonder if this is simply bad public relations from the Spurs office or if they had no ideas as to his status. The latter would be disappointing because it would mean they aren't keeping up with this player.
Awesome find, Bruno. Good to see that there was a reason he disappeared.
Even though I haven't seen much of him play, I've been impressed. Good size and good athleticism. Injuries seem to be an ongoing issue with him. He's still only 21-years-old so his future could still be bright if he can get healthy and stay healthy.
This upcoming summer league will be a huge one for Sanikidze. Last year he played well but he inexplicably didn't play that much. This year he has to earn minutes. If he can show anything during the summer league, it'd be nice to put him on the Toros plan starting next season.
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