A former Los Angeles Lakers center has re-upped with the ailing Memphis Grizzlies.
Amid multiple injuries and inconsistent play from All-Stars Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, Memphis has sunk to a 15-18 record and the Western Conference’s No. 9 seed.
What was once one of the more promising young teams in the conference now seems to be primed for a long-term retooling - or perhaps an entire teardown.
Shams Charania of ESPN reports that Memphis is re-signing reserve center Christian Koloko to his second 10-day hardship exception deal of the year.
Players are eligible to ink up to two 10-day deals with a team in a given season, after which they need to sign rest-of-year agreements if they want to stick around. So that’s the choice Memphis must make in 10 days.
Teams are permitted to add players beyond their typically allotted 15 standard roster spots via hardship exception contracts when four standard signings have been out for at least three games and are set to sit out at least the next two weeks of action.
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In Memphis’ case, the Grizzlies actually have five players who’ll be out until at least mid-January. Guards Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and John Konchar are hurt, as are big men Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke.
Koloko will be available for the Grizzlies’ next six contests, through Jan. 11.
Across his first five games with Memphis, the 25-year-old Arizona product has been averaging 2.0 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the floor, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.2 steals and 1.0 assists in 18.6 minutes per.
The 6-foot-11 pro was first selected in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors with the No. 33 pick. He incurred a blood clot in April 2023, and was cut by Toronto midway through the subsequent season.
The Lakers signed Koloko to a two-way deal at the start of 2024-25. He was on LA’s roster for the first month of 2025-26, but the Lakers ultimately cut him to accommodate new two-way forward Drew Timme.
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This story was originally published January 2, 2026 at 2:44 PM.