Christian Koloko brings unique skill set to Raptors' rotation

When Christian Koloko was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 33rd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the expectation around the organization was that the former University of Arizona Wildcat would not feature prominently for the team in the regular season as a rookie.

Fast forward four months, on the eve of opening night of the 2022-23 NBA season, and the 22-year-old Cameroonian centre seems poised to figure into head coach Nick Nurse's rotation.

Koloko's stock within the team rose considerably in the Raptors' final preseason game against the Boston Celtics in Montreal on Friday, where the rookie had the best showing of his very young career. In just under 17 minutes off the bench, Koloko scored 12 points on 6-for-6 shooting, grabbed four rebounds, blocked two shots and grabbed one steal, which resulted in an impressive fast-break finish for the big man.

The 7-foot-1, 230-pound centre gives the Raptors the kind of size they have not been able to count on since the likes of Marc Gasol, paired with the athleticism to match the vision with which general manager Bobby Webster and the front office have constructed the roster.

What immediately stands out with Koloko is his vertical ability, highlighted by a handful of finishes above the rim against the Celtics. Having him sit in the dunker's spot allows any Raptors ball-handler to dump off a quick pass if the lane to the basket isn't clear, allowing him to finish strong at the hoop as a backup option in the half-court.

His length — a 7-foot-5 wingspan and 9-foot-5 standing reach — make Koloko a formidable shot-blocker, a skill he displayed with two swats in the Raptors' win at the Bell Centre. It also allows him to snag rebounds on both ends of the floor, and he showed a proclivity to tipping the ball back out to a teammate on the perimeter after a missed shot, as he did on two occasions Friday.

Koloko's length and finishing ability also make him a considerable lob threat, especially if his defender forgets about him near the basket. Fred VanVleet found him for a sweet alley-oop tip-in on Friday, as the Celtics' defenders focused all their attention on the diminutive guard, leaving the first-year centre open.

While there is still a lot of room for growth, Koloko's standout preseason performance shows the youngster is already getting acclimated to the NBA.

"I'm getting more comfortable, it's just a question of time," he told reporters following the game. "I'm new to the NBA, I'm new to the team, I've got new teammates and I have to get used to playing with them, but I feel more comfortable today for sure."

Nurse was also pleased with Koloko's performance and likes what he sees out of the team's only draft pick in 2022.

"He's got a pretty good IQ, doesn't make a lot of mistakes, and he's still learning a few things," Nurse said. "He was really active on the glass, he kept a lot of [possessions] alive, blocked a couple shots and made a few good rolls and dump-off baskets."

While it's unrealistic to expect Koloko to become a starter or even a top-8 rotation player for the Raptors to start the season, his unique skill set and physical abilities make him a valuable option to bring off the bench, especially in certain matchups that can be exploited with his blend of size and athleticism.

For now, though, Nurse sees Koloko rotating between the Raptors and their G League-affiliate Raptors 905, where he thinks the promising big man can fast-track his development with the extra reps in a low-pressure environment.

"I would imagine we’ll see him down there (with the 905)," Nurse told reporters on Sunday. "First of all, he’s going to play for us as well, there’s no doubt about it, but I also just think it’s valuable for him to see what 40 minutes versus 15 looks like and things like that. More reps, get him in late-game situations, a lot he can learn down there."

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