The Los Angeles Lakers enjoyed a pretty good success story last season with Jordan Goodwin going from a two-way contract to a standard NBA deal by season's end. Christian Koloko will be the player everyone is eyeing to replicate that type of success in 2025-26.
The Lakers still have a brutal backup center rotation behind Deandre Ayton. Jaxson Hayes is inconsistent. Maxi Kleber has his best days behind him. Koloko is unproven. The hope would be that last sentiment changing throughout the upcoming season.
2025-26 will be the best opportunity Koloko can get to carve out a role at the NBA level. If the Lakers center cannot beat out the uninspiring options of Hayes and Kleber, it is also likely to be his last opportunity with Los Angeles.
This will be the second year for Koloko on a two-way contract with the Lakers. 2024-25 was about getting him up to speed after returning to the NBA following issues with blood clots. 2025-26 will come with less leniency and more expectations to make something of his circumstances.
Christian Koloko must emerge as the backup center by season's end
If the Lakers do not want to go external to solve their lackluster center rotation before the NBA trade deadline in February, Koloko will need to be the answer. Lakers insider Jovan Buha thought the Lakers center would surely receive his moments to prove himself on a recent episode of his podcast.
Buha said, "It comes down to can he outplay Jaxson Hayes and/or Maxi Kleber. I think so. Even if he doesn't per se, I also think there's just value in having a guy like Koloko who I think is a better rim protector and defender than either one of those guys."
The Lakers reporter added his belief in the flashes being there for Koloko being a rotation level backup center last season. However, by Buha's own admission, that came with moments where the Lakers big man lacked polish.
Finishing consistently on the offensive end, staying out of foul trouble, and adding more physicality to his game were highlighted as the main needs for Koloko. That would allow him to continue proving just how good the upside with his defensive instincts
Koloko will only get 50 games, as things stand, to make his mark with the Lakers. Those would be the limitations of his current two-way deal with the team.
It should be unsurprising to see Rob Pelinka keep that 15th spot on the roster open for quite some time. Koloko will not only need to prove his worth against his internal competition, but also reassure the Lakers that whatever buyout candidates are eventually available will not be worth their time over his promotion to a standard deal.