Christian Koloko

Last updated
Christian Koloko
Christian Koloko.jpg
Koloko with Arizona in 2021
No. 10–Los Angeles Lakers
Position Center
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2000-06-20) 20 June 2000 (age 24)
Douala, Cameroon
Listed height7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school
College Arizona (2019–2022)
NBA draft 2022: 2nd round, 33rd overall pick
Selected by the Toronto Raptors
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2024 Toronto Raptors
2023 →Raptors 905
2024–present Los Angeles Lakers
2024–present→South Bay Lakers
Career highlights and awards
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at Basketball-Reference.com

Christian Junior Koloko (born 20 June 2000) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 and was voted the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year after his junior season.

Contents

High school career

Koloko is a native of Douala, Cameroon and attended Collège Libermann in his hometown. [1] He grew up playing football and started playing basketball at age 12. [2] In 2017, Koloko moved to the United States to play basketball for Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa, California as a junior, despite not speaking English at first. [3] For his senior season, he transferred to Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California, where he was teammates with Cassius Stanley, Kenyon Martin Jr. and Scotty Pippen Jr. [4] Koloko helped his team claim its second straight Open Division state title. [2] A four-star recruit, he committed to playing college basketball for Arizona over offers from California, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Harvard and Princeton. [5]

College career

As a freshman at Arizona, Koloko averaged 2.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. [6] In his sophomore season, he averaged 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. [7] On 21 November 2021, Koloko posted a career-high 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in an 80–62 win over fourth-ranked Michigan at the Roman Main Event title game, earning tournament MVP honors. [8] As a junior, he was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Pac-12 Most Improved Player, and first-team All-Pac-12. [9]

On 18 April 2022, Koloko declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. [10] [11]

Professional career

Toronto Raptors (2022–2024)

Koloko was selected with the 33rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. [12] On 26 August 2022, Koloko signed a rookie-scale contract with the Raptors. [13] On 17 January 2024, Koloko was waived by the Raptors. [14] A day later, he was put into NBA's fitness-to-play panel due to discovering career-threatening blood clot issues, meaning no teams can claim waiver to sign him until he is medically cleared to play. [15]

Los Angeles / South Bay Lakers (2024–present)

On 16 September 2024, Koloko signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. [16]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2022–23 Toronto 581913.8.480.083.6272.9.5.41.03.1
Career581913.8.480.083.6272.9.5.41.03.1

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2019–20 Arizona 2808.3.483.000.3502.4.2.3.92.3
2020–21 Arizona 261917.3.520.000.6254.8.3.51.35.3
2021–22 Arizona 373725.4.635.000.7357.31.4.82.812.6
Career915617.9.590.000.6705.1.7.51.87.3

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References

  1. ↑ Ngon, Yvan (7 March 2020). "Christian Koloko, révélation Camerounaise enviée en NBA". CameroonVoice.com (in French). Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Holmes, C. J. (13 December 2019). "Christian Koloko is 'still a baby in this game,' but Arizona is pleased with the freshman's steady progress". The Athletic . Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. ↑ Pascoe, Bruce (27 July 2018). "Seen and heard: Christian Koloko, still adapting to life in US, has Arizona on his radar". Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Kelapire, Ryan (8 January 2020). "Arizona block machine Christian Koloko wants to show he's more than a project". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  5. ↑ Pascoe, Bruce (23 September 2018). "From Cameroon to Cats: Arizona gets commitment from 6-foot-10 Christian Koloko". Tucson.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Moreno, Matt (11 May 2020). "Offseason limitations could slow development for Arizona's Christian Koloko". Rivals.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Hutchison, Troy (23 November 2021). "Arizona center Christian Koloko named Pac-12 Player of the Week". Rivals.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Pedersen, Brian J. (21 November 2021). "Christian Koloko outplays Michigan's Hunter Dickinson as Arizona cruises past Wolverines". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "2021-22 Pac-12 Men's Basketball All-Conference honors and Annual Performance Awards, presented by Nextiva". Pac-12.com (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Arizona junior Christian Koloko declares for 2022 NBA draft". The Rookie Wire. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "Arizona C Christian Koloko declares for 2022 NBA Draft". Arizona Sports. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  12. ↑ "Raptors pick Christian Koloko with 33rd pick". TSN.ca. The Canadian Press. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  13. ↑ Beloso, M. (26 August 2022). "RAPTORS SIGN SECOND ROUND PICK KOLOKO". NBA.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "RAPTORS COMPLETE TRADE WITH INDIANA". NBA.com. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Raptors prez: Koloko's status 'in hands of NBA'". ESPN.com. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Lakers Sign Christian Koloko to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
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