Ibon Navarro gets the center he wanted. Crvena Zvezda announced on Sunday the signing of Christian Koloko, a 26-year-old, 6'11" Cameroonian center who arrives from the NBA, where he has played the last four seasons. The club did not disclose the contract length. "Welcome to Belgrade and the red-and-white family, Christian," the Serbian club posted on social media.
The signing addresses an urgent need. Red Star had gone weeks without a true center available due to injuries to Ebuka Izundu and Jonathan Motley, and Navarro had been forced to play with Chima Moneke, Dejan Davidovac, and Semi Ojeleye as his tallest players. With that emergency solution, the team had strung together four straight wins in the EuroLeague, the latest against Paris. Koloko gives the Vitoria-born coach what he was missing: size, intimidation, and rebounding.
A Defensive Specialist
Koloko was born in Douala and made the jump to the United States as a teenager. After attending two high schools in California, he played three seasons at the University of Arizona, where he was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. His wingspan, close to 7'6", is his greatest weapon.
The Toronto Raptors selected him with the 33rd pick in the 2022 draft. In Canada he played 58 games, 19 of them as a starter, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds. He then played for the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract and in the G League before signing with the Memphis Grizzlies in December 2025. His most recent team was the Atlanta Hawks. Last season, split between the Lakers, Grizzlies, and Hawks, he averaged 2.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 13 minutes per game across 27 contests.
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Perfectly Timed for the Derby
The schedule makes the signing even more timely. The next EuroLeague matchday brings the eternal Belgrade derby on Partizan's home court, a clash between two teams with 4-2 and 3-3 records in which interior play could be decisive. It remains to be seen whether Koloko, after completing the formalities, arrives in time to make his debut in such a setting.