Christian Koloko

Christian Koloko's Biography

Christian Junior Koloko, born on 20 June 2000, is a consummate basketball professional from Cameroon, presently playing for the esteemed Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His engagement with the club also extends to a two-way contract with the South Bay Lakers, affiliated with the NBA G League. His journey into NBA began with a formidable tenure of college basketball during which he represented the Arizona Wildcats.

Hailing from Douala, Cameroon, Koloko’s relationship with sports began early, however, not on the basketball court, but the football field. It was during his adolescent years at Collège Libermann, in his hometown, when a 12-year-old Koloko made a transition into the sport he would come to excel in – basketball.

A turning point in Koloko’s career came in 2017 when he relocated to the United States, acknowledging the call to play basketball for Birmingham High School, in Lake Balboa, California in his junior year. Overcoming major cultural and linguistic barriers, his next big move was transferring to Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California for his senior season. This transition brought him in the company of other promising players like Cassius Stanley, Kenyon Martin Jr., and Scotty Pippen Jr. During this stint, Koloko emerged as a key player in leading his team to achieve their second consecutive Open Division state title. This caught the eye of many college scouts and as a four-star recruit, Koloko chose Arizona over enticing offers from reputed institutions like California, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Harvard, and Princeton.

While at Arizona, Koloko’s initial average of 2.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in freshman year saw a consistent improvement to 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in his sophomore year. His soaring performance culminated in a career-best performance on November 21, 2021, posting 22 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks. Consequently, Koloko won the Roman Main Event title game, garnering tournament MVP honors. As a junior, he was bestowed with the titles of Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Pac-12 Most Improved Player, and first-team All-Pac-12.

However, on 18 April 2022, Christian Junior Koloko decided to forsake his remaining college eligibility and declared for the 2022 NBA draft. The Toronto Raptors saw promise, selecting him with the 33rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. He then proceeded to sign a rookie-scale contract with the Raptors on August 26, 2022. However, due to unforeseen events, Koloko was waived by the Raptors on January 17, 2024, and was put on the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel due to the discovery of career-threatening blood clot issues.

His passion for the court undeterred, Koloko was cleared to play on September 16, 2024. On this day, he signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite all the ups and downs, this young Cameroonian professional basketball player remains a promising figure in the NBA, his career trajectory mapping remarkable resilience and a commitment to the sport.