The Los Angeles Lakers took a chance on big man Christian Koloko during the 2024-25 season. Koloko had missed the entire 2023-24 campaign due to a blood clot, but Los Angeles' need for depth at center saw them bring the former second-round pick in on a two-way contract in 2024-25, and even played him in two games in 2025-26.
Though it's still early in his tenure, Koloko is turning heads for the Atlanta Hawks with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined and a similar need for value established.
Zach Langley of Soaring Down South recently wrote about how Koloko has quickly become, "Everything Atlanta's lacked." Though the statistics may not jump off the page, his value ranges beyond the numbers and instead highlights his ability to plug in holes on defense.
As a rim protecting big who can play above the basket and crash the offensive glass, Koloko offers interior aid that can help stabilize a rotation.
That was on firm display when the Hawks defeated the Indiana Pacers 132-116 on Jan. 26. Koloko stepped up with 12 points, four rebounds, one offensive board, and three blocks in 17 minutes, shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.
Koloko thus brought his tally up to six blocks in three games and reminded the Lakers of how badly they need a rim protector of their own.
Former Lakers center Christian Koloko is stepping up for the Hawks
While Koloko is hitting his stride in Atlanta, Los Angeles is still attempting to figure out what the future of the center position looks like within their own rotation. It's a process that has failed to sprout meaningful results despite the void existing since the championship season in 2020.
Even with Anthony Davis in the rotation, the Lakers never truly resolved the woes at center considering he consistently requested to play power forward.
The Lakers' refusal to address such a pressing need is now rearing its head as the 2026 NBA trade deadline nears. Los Angeles signed Deandre Ayton and re-signed Jaxson Hayes, but inconsistency has been a talking point whenever either player is discussed.
That isn't to say that Koloko could've resolved the Lakers' issues, but seeing him play quality minutes in Atlanta stings nevertheless.
Perhaps the lesson learned here will be that Los Angeles needs to place more of an emphasis on player development if it hopes to avoid sustained inconsistency moving forward. Koloko may not have been the answer, but giving him more minutes could've unlocked his potential—even if there were learning curves along the way.
Instead, the Lakers are on the outside looking in as a former player shows the type of flashes of brilliance that could've helped them win games in 2025-26.