Tag: Christian Koloko

Raptors’ Christian Koloko registered another double-double in G League

Koloko put up his third double-double in the G League with the 905 on Monday.

Toronto Raptors rookie Christian Koloko on Monday put up another double-double performance on assignment in the G League with the Raptors 905.

Koloko produced 10 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot in 25 minutes of work in the 115-112 loss at home. He finished 4-of-8 from the field in the contest, which was his fourth of the season with the 905.

The 33rd pick registered his third straight double-double with the effort after playing with tremendous energy and effort. He has filled the stat sheet in each game in the G League and has offered a glimpse of what he can bring to the Raptors.

The Raptors assigned Koloko to the 905 for the first time this season on Jan. 21. With the team seemingly as healthy as it has been all year, Koloko hasn’t played much of late. The team believes the G League can serve as a great opportunity to develop and log consistent playing time.

He has responded by averaging 12.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, four blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals on 55.3% shooting from the field with the 905. He is hauling in 5.5 offensive rebounds per game and has scored in double figures in each game thus far.

Koloko is still viewed as a raw player. His time in the G League will allow him to work on his game and refine his skills to be better suited to contribute on a nightly basis.

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Raptors’ Christian Koloko puts up second straight double-double in G League

Koloko is averaging 13.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, five blocks, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals with the 905.

Toronto Raptors rookie Christian Koloko on Thursday registered his second straight double-double in the G League with the Raptors 905 against the Birmingham Squadron.

Koloko produced 16 points, 14 rebounds, five blocked shots, three steals and two assists in the 115-95 loss at home. He finished 6-of-9 from the field in 31 minutes of action in his third game on assignment with the 905.

With the performance, the 33rd pick became one of six players in the G League this season to record at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a game. He has played with tremendous energy and effort, and is filling up the stat sheet nightly with the 905.

The Raptors assigned Koloko to the 905 for the first time this season last week. With the team seemingly as healthy as it has been all year, Koloko has been a healthy scratch from the lineup for a good stretch of games recently.

He is averaging 13.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, five blocks, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals on 56.7% shooting from the field with the 905. He is hauling in six offensive rebounds per game and has scored in double figures in each game thus far.

The assignments with the 905 should help Koloko work on his overall game. He has proven 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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Pascal Siakam reveals advice to Christian Koloko ahead of G League game

Raptors veteran Pascal Siakam offered some advice to Koloko ahead of his first game in the G League on Saturday.

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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Raptors rookie Christian Koloko excited to face Sixers star Joel Embiid

Toronto Raptors rookie Christian Koloko is excited for his first matchup with Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.

Philadelphia 76ers star big man Joel Embiid is one of the elite players in the league as he is able to take games over in the blink of an eye and he is able to score in so many different ways. He can knock down jumpers, he’s elite in the post, and he draws so many fouls as he is unstoppable down low.

Due to Embiid’s stature in the league, he earns a lot of respect from his peers in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors have two players from Embiid’s native country of Cameroon in Pascal Siakam and Christain Koloko and Koloko is excited for his first crack at Embiid.

The rookie out of Arizona told reporters this about his matchup with Embiid:

It’s going to mean a lot. It is going to be amazing. Joel is one of the best big men in the league. I always try to watch all of the big men — Joel, (Nikola) Jokic, all of those guys. Just playing against him, it is going to mean a lot. That’s why you want to play in the NBA. You want to play against the best players in the world and he’s one of them so I’m really excited.

Koloko and the Raptors will face Embiid and the Sixers on Wednesday night in Toronto at 7:30 p.m. EDT. It will be the first of two games at Scotiabank Arena.

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Along with Embiid, Raptors’ Koloko and Siakam eager to make history for Cameroon

Koloko and Siakam, along with Embiid, have each represented their native Cameroon very well this week in the NBA.

Cameroon natives Christian Koloko and Pascal Siakam each made history this week, and are set to do so once again on Wednesday as the Toronto Raptors host Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Koloko, 22, and Siakam, 28, are both from Douala, Cameroon. They became the first pair of Cameroonian teammates to start in the same game when the Raptors faced the Miami Heat on Monday. Koloko, the 33rd pick in the draft, has started in place of Scottie Barnes (ankle).

With Embiid on deck, more history could be made.

Embiid, who is from Yaoundé, Cameroon, has started several times against Siakam but, with Koloko probable to start again, the contest would be the first in which three players from the country start in the same game; Koloko was the fifth to ever start in the NBA.

Koloko said the game will have special meaning.

It is going to mean a lot having three Cameroon players playing in an NBA game at the highest level. It is just going to show people back home to put the work in and trust the process like Embiid used to say. I think that is going to inspire a lot of people back home.

The three players each attended Basketball Without Borders, an instructional basketball camp for young people hosted by the NBA in conjunction with FIBA. The program promotes leadership, education, sportsmanship and healthy living.

More than 1,400 campers from more than 30 African countries have participated in Basketball Without Borders since its inception in 2003. Twelve African alumni of Basketball Without Borders have been drafted into the NBA, including Embiid, Siakam and Koloko.

Embiid and Siakam often give back to their communities often by hosting camps in an effort to bring awareness to the game of basketball. The program can also serve as a reminder that anything is possible for young individuals interested in basketball around the globe.

Siakam recognizes how impactful Wednesday can be.

It is amazing to see how far we’ve come. I think we’re still a long ways (away) but I think we’re making good steps forward. I think the most important thing is I hope the next generation is seeing that and, for them, hopefully, that means something (to have) that representation that we don’t really get to have most of the time.

I didn’t watch that much basketball but when I did, I didn’t really see a lot of people that were from where I’m from. Seeing three people from the same place in one game is huge. Hopefully, that makes younger kids want to dream to be in the NBA because it feels like something you can touch because we’re doing it.

The contest will be just the sixth appearance for Koloko with the Raptors. He recorded two points, two rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot on Monday, and is averaging 1.8 points and three rebounds in 16.3 minutes per game.

With Barnes missing time, the team has turned to him. He emerged as a tremendous defender in three years at Arizona and has shown glimpses of that ability in the early going, something that will be key against the Sixers and Embiid.

Though Koloko and the Raptors will have their hands full with Embiid, Wednesday will likely be a day that the three players remember for a long time.

“It is going to be amazing,” Koloko said. “Joel is one of the best big men in the league. I always try to watch all of the big men — Joel, Jokic, all of those guys. Just playing against him, it is going to mean a lot. That’s why you want to play in the NBA; you want to play against the best players in the world.”

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Heat rookie Nikola Jovic suspended for role in altercation vs. Raptors

Caleb Martin and Nikola Jovic were suspended one game for their roles in an on-court altercation with Raptors rookie Christian Koloko.

Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin and rookie Nikola Jovic have each been suspended one game by the NBA for their roles in an on-court altercation with Toronto Raptors rookie Christian Koloko on Saturday.

Martin was issued a suspension after escalating the incident and tackling Koloko into the stands after the two battled for rebounding position. Jovic was sat down for one game after leaving the bench area and entering the altercation.

They will serve their suspensions Monday versus the Raptors.

Martin and Koloko each received technical fouls and were ejected from the game. Martin recorded eight points and five rebounds in 22 minutes prior to the incident, while Koloko had one point and two rebounds in 12 minutes of work.

Koloko was fined $15,000 by the NBA for grabbing Martin.

Martin, in three games, is averaging 6.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals, while Jovic has not yet appeared in a game with the Heat this season. Koloko is posting 1.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game for the Raptors.

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Raptors’ Christian Koloko signs 3-year rookie contract

Koloko averaged 7.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.8 steals and one assist in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Former Arizona center Christian Koloko on Friday reportedly signed a three-year rookie contract with the Toronto Raptors, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.

Koloko, who was born in Cameroon, will earn $1.5 million this season and the minimum in the last two years as the 33rd pick. The Raptors were delayed in signing him, in part, because of his visa situation. He will be able to apply for a work permit after signing his contract.

The 7-foot-1 standout was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 12.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocked shots and 1.4 assists. His 102 blocks tied a Wildcats’ single-season record and were sixth-most in the country.

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Koloko turned in a solid showing in the Las Vegas Summer League. He averaged 7.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.8 steals and one assist on 36.6% shooting from the field in five games. He had his best game on July 9 with 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

The Raptors used their last roster spot to sign Koloko and will head into the season looking to improve upon their playoff run last year. Koloko figures to have the opportunity to compete for a backup role with his ability to defend and control the paint.

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Explaining why the Raptors have left their only draft pick, Christian Koloko, unsigned

What’s going on in Toronto?

The Toronto Raptors used their only pick in the 2022 NBA Draft on former Arizona big man Christian Koloko, but now, something strange is happening.

Koloko performed well in NBA 2K23 Summer League for the Raptors, averaging 12.7 points and 6.8 rebounds with 2.9 steals and 3.6 blocks per 36 minutes.

It was good productivity, but not terribly surprising. From a talent and value perspective, there is not often much difference between someone selected at No. 28 overall compared to someone like Koloko, who the Raptors drafted with the 33rd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

But the major difference between those selected in the first round and those selected in the second round, however, simply comes down to contracts. The contracts of second-round picks can get a bit more complicated — and it has with Koloko.

Prospects who were selected within the first round have a standard rookie-scale contract, already negotiated by the league in the collective bargaining agreement. But players selected in the second round do not have a pre-determined contract structure, so teams have more flexibility.

While other rookies who were selected in the second round already have their contracts signed, Koloko still does not. That delay has caused some, like The Athletic’s John Hollinger, to raise their eyebrows.

So what’s going on here? Here is what Tim Bontemps had to say on the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast (via ESPN)

“If they sign Christian Koloko to a three-year deal … you have to use an exception or cap space. So if they sign him even to just the standard second-round pick number but sign him for three years, they are going to go over the taxpayer MLE, therefore, they’re going to trigger the hard cap.”

Essentially, what that means is Toronto can sign Koloko to a two-year, $2.7 million minimum deal without triggering the hard cap. But the market value for the players selected in his draft range dictates a contract closer to a four-year, $8.2 million deal, so he may not accept an offer for the minimum.

As noted by Bontemps, because the Raptors do not have cap space, they would ultimately have to use some of their mid-level exception to get a deal done. But if they do that, it would impact their ability to take on additional salary in the future.

There are many reasons why a team would want to retain the ability to take on additional cap space. But it’s especially significant for Toronto because as of right now, they remain one of the potential trade suitors for Kevin Durant.

So as long as Durant remains on the Nets (unless it extends into the regular season), it seems Koloko may have to wait in limbo for a bit longer. But in the meanwhile, at least he is able to stay in shape by getting in some good pick-up runs with Rico Hines (as well as new teammates Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes) at UCLA.

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Where every Pac-12 player landed in the 2022 NBA draft

The Pac-12 conference had six players selected in the 2022 NBA draft, including three in the first round and three out of Arizona.

The 2022 NBA draft came and went on Thursday evening, and while the Oregon Ducks did not have any players selected it was still a busy day for the Pac-12 conference.

Tommy Lloyd’s Arizona Wildcats had three players selected within the first 33 picks of the draft, while UCLA, USC, and Colorado each had a player find a new home as well.

The Pac-12 wasn’t the only west coast conference with representatives at the draft, with three players (Chet Holmgren, Andrew Nembhard, and Jalen Williams) out of the WCC and one more (David Roddy) from the Mountain West.

While it wasn’t the most talented NBA draft class in Pac-12 conference history, this group should have multiple guys with lengthy careers in the association – and one of them could happen right here in Oregon.

Here is a look at all six draftees from the conference of champions, where they landed, and what their fit looks like on the new squad: