Blockbuster Deal Brewing: Crvena Zvezda Target NBA Center Christian Koloko

According to reports from Spain, Christian Koloko is in advanced talks with Crvena Zvezda, though the Belgrade side faces competition for the center's signature.

Christian Junior Koloko (born June 20, 2000) is a Cameroonian professional basketball player who most recently featured for the Atlanta Hawks on a two-way contract, splitting time with their NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks. He played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats, earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and First-team All-Pac-12 honors following his junior season. Selected in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, Koloko has logged 122 career NBA appearances across stints with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Atlanta Hawks.

Koloko was born in Babouantou in Cameroon's West Region and grew up in Douala, where he attended Collège Libermann. He played soccer throughout his childhood before picking up basketball at age 12. In 2017, Koloko moved to the United States to play high school basketball at Birmingham Community Charter High School in Lake Balboa, California, for his junior season, despite not speaking English upon arrival.

For his senior campaign, he transferred to Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California, teaming up with Cassius Stanley, Kenyon Martin Jr., and Scotty Pippen Jr. Koloko helped lead the program to its second straight Open Division state title. A four-star recruit, he committed to the University of Arizona, choosing the Wildcats over offers from California, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Harvard, and Princeton.

As a freshman at Arizona, Koloko averaged 2.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, raising his averages to 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in his sophomore year. On November 21, 2021, he posted a collegiate career-high 22 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks in an 80-62 win over fourth-ranked Michigan at the Roman Main Event, taking home tournament MVP honors. As a junior, he was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Pac-12 Most Improved Player, and a First-team All-Pac-12 selection. On April 18, 2022, Koloko declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, relinquishing his remaining college eligibility.

Toronto Raptors (2022–2024)

Koloko was selected with the 33rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, signing his rookie-scale contract on August 26, 2022. During his rookie campaign, he made 58 appearances, averaging 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 13.8 minutes per contest.

In April 2023, a blood clot issue sidelined him for half the season. On January 17, 2024, the Raptors waived Koloko after he was not medically cleared to play, as the franchise needed roster spots following the trade of Pascal Siakam. A day later, he was placed under the NBA's Fitness-to-Play panel due to the severity of the blood clot issue, preventing any team from claiming him off waivers until he received full medical clearance.

On September 16, 2024, Koloko signed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, pending medical approval from the league and an executed liability waiver. On October 29, 2024, the NBA's Fitness-to-Play panel officially cleared him to return to action. He made his Lakers debut on November 6, 2024, against the Memphis Grizzlies with Anthony Davis sidelined and Christian Wood recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. On November 13, 2024, Jaxson Hayes was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle, which expanded Koloko's role and minutes.

On November 26, 2025, the Lakers waived Koloko following the signing of Drew Timme. On December 15, 2025, the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League acquired him from the available player pool.

On December 22, 2025, Koloko signed a 10-day hardship exception contract with the Memphis Grizzlies to help alleviate their injury-depleted frontcourt. On January 2, 2026, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Grizzlies.

On January 16, 2026, Koloko signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks, splitting time between the NBA roster and the College Park Skyhawks. Following that, he had a brief stint with the New Orleans Pelicans before hitting free agency last Friday.