Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Former Lakers Center Joins New NBA Team on Monday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Dec 22, 2025 11:41 AM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers spent much of last season evaluating their options in the frontcourt without ever settling on anyone for the center position. One of the players who got reps in there last year and this season is now heading to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Christian Koloko, a 7-foot center who spent parts of the past two seasons with Los Angeles, has signed a 10-day contract with Memphis.

Koloko appeared in 37 games for the Lakers last season, the tenth-most among all players suiting up for the franchise, averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in just over nine minutes per game.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Grizzlies are signing Koloko on Monday, and the move is made possible through the league’s hardship exception.

The Memphis Grizzlies are signing former Lakers and Raptors center Christian Koloko to a 10-day contract via hardship exception, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2025

Koloko re-signed with the Lakers last offseason, returning to Los Angeles on a two-way deal for 2025–26, but could only appear in two regular-season games because of the addition of starting center DeAndre Ayton and the heavy usage of backup Jaxson Hayes.

The Lakers waived Koloko in late November to make room for new two-way signee Drew Timme, who came from the G League South Bay Lakers.

Throughout his brief NBA career, Koloko appeared in 58 games as a rookie with the Toronto Raptors in 2022-23 but missed the entire 2023–24 campaign due to a blood clot issue.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Koloko (10)© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Koloko was cleared to return to the league by the NBA’s fitness panel in Oct. 2024 and joined the Lakers for training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season.

The big man has appeared in 97 career games across three seasons between the Raptors and Lakers, with 19 starts (all of them with the Raptors) and averages of 2.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game.

The Grizzlies are expected to use Koloko as a short-term fix to an ever-growing injury list that includes Ja Morant and, most importantly regarding this move, big men Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke.

Koloko shouldn't be expected to play a lot of minutes, but rather take on a backup role and serve as frontcourt depth behind presumptive starting bigs Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Grizzlies are 13–15 and will visit the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:30 p.m. ET on Monday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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