Played with Luka in LA, ranked among NBA's elite in key metric: Who is Christian Koloko, Zvezda's new rim protector?

Christian Koloko, who spent the past four seasons in the NBA, is the latest addition to Crvena Zvezda as the club moves to shore up its frontcourt depth.

With Johnathan Motley sidelined by injury and Ebuka Izundu also dealing with physical issues—though his return is expected against Krka in the ABA League—it became evident that head coach Ibon Navarro needed another reliable presence in the paint.

Patrick Baldwin is not an option at the five, while Semi Ojeleye, arguably the team's most consistent performer this season, is already carrying a heavy workload and must be managed carefully for the long haul.

As a result, Zvezda's front office turned its focus across the Atlantic, waiting out the NBA roster cuts before securing Koloko's signature ahead of competition from Baskonia and several other EuroLeague sides.

Koloko began his NBA journey in 2022 when he was selected by the Toronto Raptors. Following a two-year stint in Canada, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, where he briefly shared a locker room with Luka Dončić during the 2024/25 campaign before being waived in November 2025.

The Cameroonian big man then had brief spells with Memphis and Atlanta, but after entering the market without a contract for the new season, he is now set to make his EuroLeague debut.

Standing at 7-foot-0 (211 cm), Koloko has 123 NBA appearances to his name. Over that stretch, he averaged roughly 12 minutes and 2.8 points per game, making it clear that his value does not lie in high-volume scoring.

Koloko does not stretch the floor from beyond the arc and rarely pulls up from midrange, generating nearly all of his offensive output near the rim. A career 49% shooter from the field, he still has room to develop on that side of the ball.

Where the Cameroonian truly shines, however, is on the defensive end. Measuring 211 cm with an immense 225 cm wingspan (7'5"), he provides elite length and instincts as a rim protector.

Throughout his NBA career, Koloko averaged nearly one block per game, ranking among the league's elite in block rate per minute whenever handed substantial playing time.

At 26 years old, he also possesses the lateral mobility to switch onto perimeter guards, giving the red-and-whites a versatile defensive anchor.

Koloko appears to be a natural fit for Ibon Navarro's system, with Zvezda currently boasting one of the top defensive ratings in the EuroLeague. While many anticipated an up-tempo brand of basketball from the Spanish tactician, Navarro has built a formidable defensive unit—one tailored for a player of Koloko's profile.

This will mark the former Lakers center's first venture into European basketball. How quickly he adapts to the continental game, Navarro's tactics, and a completely new environment remains to be seen. On paper, however, Zvezda have secured a major reinforcement for the remainder of the campaign.

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