It’s been a bittersweet basketball season for Christian Koloko.
The former Arizona center returned to Tucson for the Wildcats’ whooping of Arizona State on Saturday and was inducted into the McKale Center Ring of Honor.
“Feels amazing, man,” Koloko said. “I was back here last year in the summer, but tonight it feels amazing to be back here to be inducted into the Ring of Honor. I’m just happy to be here.”
A Ring of Honor induction or any recognition as one of the top players in program history never crossed Koloko’s mind upon arrival at Arizona.
“Some place in my head I always had it. But I didn’t know it was going to happen,” Koloko said. “I didn’t know I was going to make it to the NBA. That was my goal and I did everything I could to accomplish that goal. It happened, so I’m happy.”
The 7-foot Koloko, a Douala, Cameroon, native who moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to pursue a basketball career, was a part of the loaded 2019 recruiting class headlined by five-star point guard Nico Mannion, Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green and Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, who was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Mannion, Nnaji and Green were among the most productive Wildcats in the 2019-20 season that was cut short due to the pandemic.
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) relishes the moment as the time runs off the clock in overtime with the Wildcats ahead 85-80 over the TCU Horned Frogs in second round of the NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena in San Diego on March 20, 2022.
Koloko said one of his best memories at McKale was when he missed two free throws with 1.4 seconds left in Arizona’s 73-72 loss to Oregon as a freshman in 2020.
“From that game, it really helped me grow into the player I became,” he said.
Following two seasons with former Arizona head coach Sean Miller, Koloko averaged 12.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game under Tommy Lloyd as a junior in 2021-22, earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Pac-12 Most Improved Player honors. Koloko tied Loren Woods’ single-season record with 102 blocks during the Wildcats’ run to the Sweet 16.
“My confidence, just being out there and not being scared to make mistakes,” Koloko said. “You learn by making mistakes, so I was just out there playing free, and my teammates trusted me. We had a really good group of guys.”
Added Koloko: “I loved it. Just coming in as a freshman, I didn’t play that much. Just growing. Just growing into the best (player) right now. I loved my time at Arizona, I love the fans, I love everybody here. It was an amazing time.”
Arizona center Christian Koloko (35) and the Wildcats run the court for a few minutes while getting ready to face off against the Houston Cougars prior to their Sweet 16 game in the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at AT&T Center in San Antonio on March 23, 2022.
Saturday was a night of celebration for Koloko or “C-Lo,” as his teammates and Lloyd call him, and his three-year career with the Wildcats.
It was also the first time Koloko publicly discussed his battle with a career-threatening “respiratory issue, some blood clots” that has kept him from playing his second season in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors. The respiratory illness prevented the former second-round pick from playing in the NBA Summer League this past summer and early parts of this season.
Last month, the Raptors waived Koloko and assigned him to the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play Panel, so he’s unable to practice or play with an NBA team until he is medically cleared.
“His medical status is now in the hands of the NBA, and I can’t comment on it,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said of Koloko. “But that’s a very tough one for us because he was somebody we really believed in, someone that I know has incredible talent, and we saw as a future on this team. But we’ve exhausted all our options there, and I can’t comment on what it is particularly.
“It’s now in the hands of the NBA and I stay private with my comments on him. But it’s really unfortunate for us, because this is a player that we felt was really a big part of our future and someone that’s part of the programs we’ve built in Africa, and what we believe is now a true pipeline of how we get future players in the NBA. This was a big one for us and it didn’t work out that way for now.”
For Koloko, who’s now back living in L.A., “it’s been really difficult,” but he’s “feeling good. ... I don’t know when I’ll be back,” he said.
“This has been the toughest moment of my life,” said Koloko. “I’ve never had injuries or anything. This year I was basically out the whole year, so it’s really tough mentally, physically. But I think I’m built for that and I’m going to come back stronger. ... It’s tough, but at some point you gotta realize that you can’t do anything else. Just stay positive and try to recover. ... I just want to go out there and play basketball.”
Koloko said he’s still in the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play program, “but I’m progressing,” he said. If Koloko is cleared by the Fitness-to-Play Panel and ruled “medically able and medically fit to perform his duties as a professional basketball player,” he’s free to sign with any NBA team.
“I’m a free agent, so I’m just at home and seeing the doctors and whenever I get cleared, I’m going to find a new team,” Koloko said. “Wherever it is, I’m going to make it my new home. ... It’s been amazing being in the NBA. The NBA is the best league in the world and you can’t get any better than that. I’m grateful and thankful to be in that league.”
The 23-year-old Koloko didn’t rule out a return to the Raptors.
“Never say no. I don’t know what the future holds. I could be back with the Raptors in the future, maybe not,” he said. “I loved my time with the Raptors. They believed in me, they drafted me, so I’m thankful for them supporting me.”
Lloyd said Koloko is “really an inspiration to me, just how much a player can improve in a short time.”
“I know he’s gone through some tough health stuff, but hopefully he’s getting that behind them and I have no doubt in my mind if he can figure out this health stuff, that he can be a successful player in the NBA,” Lloyd said.
Although his basketball career is at risk in the beginning stages, Koloko is maintaining a glass-half-full perspective and is appreciative of where the sport has taken him.
“When I started playing basketball, I never imagined I would be here,” Koloko said. “I just started playing basketball for fun. I started loving it. I started loving the game of basketball. I was playing soccer my whole life. When I started playing basketball, I was like, ‘I love this game,’ and I continued to get better and better. I had an opportunity to move to the U.S., and now I’m here.
“It’s amazing.”
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Former Arizona center Christian Koloko, who was a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player in 2022, was inducted into the McKale Center Ring of Honor during the Wildcats' battle with Arizona State on Saturday.
Photos: Arizona pound on on arch rival ASU 105-60, Pac-12 men's college basketball
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) gives the forks down gesture as he and the Wildcat faithful celebrate his long-range three against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) snares the defensive rebound from Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9), left, and guard Jamiya Neal (5) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) gets his put-back attempt foiled by Arizona State guard Jamiya Neal (5), left, and guard Jose Perez (12) at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona State guard Jose Perez (12) reaches in to keep Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) from putting up a shot under the bucket in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (1) reaches in but can’t quite stop Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) on his drive in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) grabs a handful of Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) on his short range attempt in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) puts up a shot in a crowd of Arizona State Sun Devils including guard Jose Perez (12), bottom, and forward Bryant Selebangue (24) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) gets knocked sideways on his drive against Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (8), left, and forward Bryant Selebangue (24) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) scrapes away a shot by Arizona State forward Bryant Selebangue (24) during the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) gets held up by Arizona State guard Adam Miller (44) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) has to force his way past Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) while driving the baseline in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) flexes for his teammates on the bench after dropping an acrobatic basket against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona head coach Tomy Lloyd talks with one of the game officials during a break in play of the game against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) finds some room to put up a long shot over the crowd in the second half against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) puts up a short hook over Arizona State forward Bryant Selebangue (24) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson waves to the crowd as he subs out late in the Wildcats' 105-60 win against Arizona State at McKale Center.
Arizona State forward Bryant Selebangue (24) and Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) try to get to a loose ball late in the second half at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona forward Paulius Murauskas (23) runs into the defense of Arizona State guard Braelon Green (2) in the final minutes of the Wildcats win at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) goes up for the defensive rebound between Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (1), left, and center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
ASU coach Bobby Hurley has some words with one of the officials as the game gets away from the Sun Devils in the second half of their Pac-12 contest against Arizona at McKale Center on Saturday.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis, left, sneaks in to knock the ball away from Arizona State guard Adam Miller while UA guard Caleb Love also defends in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale.
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) keeps Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (1) from scoring but gets charged with a foul in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) gets hit by Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (8) trying to penetrate the lane in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) gets fouled by Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (8) on his drive in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) swats away a shot by Arizona State forward Bryant Selebangue (24) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) forces a shot under the long arm of Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (8) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Wilbur waves the A flag during player intros as Arizona gets ready to face off against arch rival Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) lets out a roar after starting the scoring with a big dunk against Arizona State in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) clothes lines Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) on his drive in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) shoves his way to the basket past Arizona State forward Bryant Selebangue (24) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) pressures Arizona State guard Jose Perez (12) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) gestures to the Zona Zoo student section after throwing down an overhand dunk against Arizona State in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
Former Arizona center Christian Koloko talks with the media prior to be inducted in the Ring of Honor at the Wildcats’ game against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 17, 2024.
