Baskonia seeks new center

Baskonia, a Spanish basketball team based in Vitoria, has proposed a contract to Cameroonian center Christian Koloko, who was recently released by the New Orleans Pelicans. The club has struggled with its center position, having only one win in four Euroleague games so far this season.

Media confirms the offer

The news, first reported by the Spanish newspaper El Correo on Monday, was quickly picked up by several international basketball outlets, including Eurohoops, Basketnews, and Sportando. Journalist Andrea Calzoni also confirmed the offer on the social media platform X, noting that Baskonia is still searching for a new center.

Koloko’s basketball background

Christian Koloko was selected 33rd in the 2022 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors and has since played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Atlanta Hawks. He missed the 2023-24 season due to a blood clot issue and played 37 games with the Lakers in the 2024-25 season, averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Koloko’s recent release

Koloko signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in July 2024 but was cut before the regular season started on October 10. If he joins Baskonia, it would be his first professional experience in Europe. Under the Cotonou agreement, as a Cameroonian, he would not be classified as an extra-community player in Spain’s Liga Endesa.

Baskonia’s center struggles

The team’s center position has been a challenge since September. Alex Len left the club without playing due to foot pain, leaving Kenneth Faried as the only center. To address this, Baskonia signed Brazilian Mário Santos on September 29, who had recently played for Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Euroleague.

Openness to new signings

At his presentation, Baskonia’s sports director Félix Fernández stated that the team is open to new reinforcements if the budget allows. He emphasized that the club never considers its roster as final and is always evaluating potential improvements.

Koloko’s potential role

Christian Koloko is seen as a defensive player who plays near the rim, similar to Faried. Mário Santos, on the other hand, offers a more versatile skill set. Adding Koloko would give coach Paolo Galbiati three centers to work with, potentially improving the team’s depth and flexibility.

Baskonia’s performance contrast

Baskonia is performing well in Liga Endesa, winning three of its first three games, including a strong 93-73 victory over Joventut Badalone. However, in the Euroleague, the team has struggled, with only one win in four games. Against Besiktas, Kenneth Faried had 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Mário Santos played 13 minutes.

Upcoming matches

Baskonia will host Élie Okobo’s team on Tuesday evening and then travel to Virtus Bologna on Friday. The team is also experiencing changes on the backcourt, with Markus Howard possibly joining Zenit Saint-Petersburg.