Christian Koloko showed promise as a center for the Lakers and should have a shot at making the rotation next season.
With summer already upon the Lakers faithful, it’s clear the main position of need will be the center spot. Not just any center, but one with the requisite skills to fit around Luka Dončić in particular.
A rim-running lob threat pick and roll partner that can protect the rim is the ideal archetype. One player to fit that bill may already be in-house with big man Christian Koloko.
To begin the season, head coach J.J. Redick preached the importance of internal development, creating synergy with the Lakers’ G League affiliate. LA signed Koloko back in September to a two-way contract, where he first needed medical clearance by the NBA after recovering from a blood clot issue that kept him out the previous year.
Koloko thrived in South Bay, averaging 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and a whopping 3.1 blocks per game. He proved himself to be a top defender in the G League while catching lobs and finishes at the rim using his 7’6 wingspan, eventually earning him minutes with the parent team.
Per the NBA’s tracking data, Koloko and Doncic played just 36 minutes together this season, with a positive 18.2 net rating. Theoretically, with his 7’0 athletic frame, he fits as the quintessential pick and roll partner, as demonstrated in the clip below.
Brook Lopez of Milwaukee is in drop coverage and the weak-side defender, Gary Trent Jr., never tags to help, leaving the rim-running lob open. While appearing in just 37 games with the parent squad, Koloko finished second on the team in field goal percentage.
With Jaxson Hayes completely falling out of favor by the end of the postseason and the only other big man being Alex Len, the Lakers lost any vertical spacing threat in the playoffs. The team opted not to convert his two-way contract into a standard one, eventually leading Redick to choose to go without a center altogether. This stagnated the Lakers’ attack, creating a predictable offense for opponents to guard.
The real upside for Koloko is on the defensive end, where he can leverage his size and athletic tools to protect the rim, as demonstrated in the clip below.
Koloko plays a traditional drop coverage in the clip above, where he’s responsible for the guard off the screen and taking away the lob pass to the rim. He does both, forcing a contested layup that he blocks.
Here’s another example below, this time as a weak-side defender.
Gabe Vincent gets stuck on Naz Ried, who appears to have an easy basket at the rim. Koloko comes over as the helper to get the block at the rim. He finished second on the team in block percentage.
He’s not a significant physical presence on the inside, but having a rangy athletic center to provide minutes is valuable across the league. He additionally creates second-chance opportunities by tipping the ball out using his gifted length.
A point of contention for Koloko receiving minutes next season could be the basketball philosophy that Redick employs, which involves placing the big man in numerous switching defensive schemes and a spaced-out offense.
The results of not only the Lakers series against Minnesota but also across the league show that having a variety of options and schemes is vital for winning at the highest level.
Koloko isn’t the perfect option; he’s far from it. Canvassing the league for available centers that can make an impact on both sides of the court is difficult, especially with the assets the Lakers have and would likely be willing to part with.
Having a player in-house, then, who has already spent a year in their system, could make him a viable option to get minutes next season.