With playing time at a premium, the Toronto Raptors assigned rookie Christian Koloko to their G League affiliate to get consistent minutes on the court.
The move comes amid a productive rookie season by Koloko. But with the Raptors seemingly as healthy as they have been all year, Koloko has been a healthy scratch from the lineup in each of the Raptors’ five games, including Sunday in a win over New York.
It would be easy to view the assignment as a demotion, but Raptors veteran Pascal Siakam offered advice to Koloko ahead of his first game with the Raptors 905 on Saturday.
Siakam revealed his message to the 33rd pick.
The people that go to the G League and pout never come back. You gotta go out there and play, show that you belong and you’re supposed to be here. Take it seriously; it is part of the process. You sit here and don’t play or play five minutes, or you go out there and play 30 or 40 minutes and work on your game. I think that’s how you gotta see it. I just told him to take it as that and go out there and work on the things you want to work on as a player and the things we need from you here.
Koloko produced 13 points, seven rebounds, six blocks, three assists and one steal in the 135-126 win over the Wisconsin Herd on the road. He went 6-of-9 from the field and hit one 3-pointer in 31 minutes of work as the 905 improved to 5-4 in the regular season.
Koloko has shown flashes of what he can do at the next level but needs time to develop and adjust to the increased competition level in the NBA. The team believes he can develop into a shot blocker and a lob threat.
The assignment on Saturday and for any future games with the 905 should ultimately help Koloko work on his overall game. He has proven that he can contribute when called upon and his time in the G League will further ensure he’ll be ready the next time his number is called.
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