Christian Koloko
![]() Koloko with Arizona in 2021 | |
Free agent | |
---|---|
Position | Center |
Personal information | |
Born | Douala, Cameroon | 20 June 2000
Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
Listed weight | 230 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 career | 2022–present |
Career history | |
2022–2024 | Toronto Raptors |
2023 | →Raptors 905 |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Christian Junior Koloko (born 20 June 2000) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player who last played for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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.
High school career
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Toronto Raptors (2022–2024)
[edit]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]
Career statistics
[edit]GP | Games 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
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022–23 | Toronto | 58 | 19 | 13.8 | .480 | .083 | .627 | 2.9 | .5 | .4 | 1.0 | 3.1 |
Career | 58 | 19 | 13.8 | .480 | .083 | .627 | 2.9 | .5 | .4 | 1.0 | 3.1 |
College
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019–20 | Arizona | 28 | 0 | 8.3 | .483 | .000 | .350 | 2.4 | .2 | .3 | .9 | 2.3 |
2020–21 | Arizona | 26 | 19 | 17.3 | .520 | .000 | .625 | 4.8 | .3 | .5 | 1.3 | 5.3 |
2021–22 | Arizona | 37 | 37 | 25.4 | .635 | .000 | .735 | 7.3 | 1.4 | .8 | 2.8 | 12.6 |
Career | 91 | 56 | 17.9 | .590 | .000 | .670 | 5.1 | .7 | .5 | 1.8 | 7.3 |
References
[edit]- ^ Ngon, Yvan (7 March 2020). "Christian Koloko, révélation Camerounaise enviée en NBA". Cameroonvoice (in French). Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Pascoe, Bruce (23 September 2018). "From Cameroon to Cats: Arizona gets commitment from 6-foot-10 Christian Koloko". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Moreno, Matt (11 May 2020). "Offseason limitations could slow development for Arizona's Christian Koloko". GOAZCATS. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Hutchison, Troy (23 November 2021). "Arizona center Christian Koloko named Pac-12 Player of the Week". GOAZCATS. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "2021-22 Pac-12 Men's Basketball All-Conference honors and Annual Performance Awards, presented by Nextiva" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ "Arizona junior Christian Koloko declares for 2022 NBA draft". The Rookie Wire. 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ^ "Arizona C Christian Koloko declares for 2022 NBA Draft". Arizona Sports. 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ^ "Raptors pick Christian Koloko with 33rd pick". TSN.ca. The Canadian Press. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ Beloso, M. (26 August 2022). "RAPTORS SIGN SECOND ROUND PICK KOLOKO". NBA.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ "RAPTORS COMPLETE TRADE WITH INDIANA". NBA.com. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Raptors prez: Koloko's status 'in hands of NBA'". ESPN.com. 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
External links
[edit]- 2000 births
- Living people
- Arizona Wildcats men's basketball players
- Birmingham High School alumni
- Cameroonian expatriate basketball people in Canada
- Cameroonian expatriate basketball people in the United States
- Cameroonian men's basketball players
- Centers (basketball)
- NBA players from Cameroon
- Raptors 905 players
- Sierra Canyon School alumni
- Sportspeople from Douala
- Toronto Raptors draft picks
- Toronto Raptors players