Crvena Zvezda sign former NBA centre Christian Koloko
The Belgrade club announced the Cameroonian, who played for Toronto, the Lakers, Memphis and Atlanta, as its new centre after injuries to Johnathan Motley and Ebuka Izundu.
Crvena Zvezda have signed former NBA centre Christian Koloko, the Belgrade club announced on its website and on X on Sunday 18 October (Belgrade time).
“Christian Koloko is the newest addition to the BC Crvena zvezda Meridianbet roster!” the club posted. Its statement said several EuroLeague clubs had been interested in the 211cm Cameroonian, born in Douala, and that he chose Zvezda as his first club in Europe. The club said he would join after medical tests; Hoops Rumors reported the deal was contingent on a physical. The club did not announce the length or value of the contract.
Koloko, 26, played three seasons at the University of Arizona and was picked 33rd overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2022, according to Basketball-Reference. He played 58 games for Toronto in 2022-23, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds, then missed the 2023-24 season because of a blood clot. He returned with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024-25 and in 2025-26 played 27 games for the Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks. His NBA career totals are 122 games, with 2.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks a game.
The club’s statement also lists San Antonio; Basketball-Reference records no NBA games for the Spurs, and Hoops Rumors reported that he spent about a week with their G League team, the Austin Spurs, last December. Hoops Rumors said the New Orleans Pelicans waived him from a non-guaranteed training-camp contract on 9 October.
Eurohoops reported that Zvezda moved for a centre after injuries to Johnathan Motley and Ebuka Izundu. Mozzart Sport reported that Motley is expected back by the end of the month. Izundu returned in Sunday’s 97-78 ABA League win at Krka, the club said.
Zvezda are 4-2 in the EuroLeague after six rounds, Eurohoops said; for their last result, a 90-81 home win over Paris, see our round 6 report.
Upcoming games (EuroLeague and ABA League schedules, times GMT):
- EuroLeague: Partizan v Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade Arena, 6:45pm Thursday 22 October
- ABA League: Igokea v Crvena Zvezda, Laktaši, 4pm Saturday 24 October
- EuroLeague: Crvena Zvezda v Maccabi Tel Aviv, 7pm Tuesday 27 October
- EuroLeague: Crvena Zvezda v Bayern Munich, 7pm Thursday 29 October
Sources
- Kristijan Koloko novi centar Crvene zvezde Meridianbet! · KK Crvena zvezda
- Crvena zvezda signs a deal with Christian Koloko · Eurohoops
- Za dobro jutro: Stigao centar na Mali Kalemegdan! · Mozzart Sport
- Christian Koloko Signs With Crvena Zvezda · Hoops Rumors
- Christian Koloko stats · Basketball-Reference
- Rutinska pobeda Crvene zvezde Meridianbet u Sloveniji, vratio se Izundu · KK Crvena zvezda
- 2026-27 EuroLeague regular season calendar · EuroLeague
- Igokea m:tel v Crvena zvezda Meridianbet, round 5 · ABA League
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