BREAKING NEWS: Christian Koloko is inducted into the Arizona Ring of Honor by Arizona

On Saturday, February 17, at halftime of the University of Arizona vs. Arizona State University game, Christian Koloko was inducted into the Arizona Ring of Honor by the No. 5 Arizona men’s basketball team. Before being selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 33rd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Koloko spent three seasons as a player with the Wildcats.

Koloko remarked, “I loved my time at Arizona, I love the fans, I love everyone here.”

As the first Arizona athlete to win Pac-12 Defensive athlete of the Year, Koloko made history during his junior year at the University of Arizona (2021–2022). With 102 blocks, tying the Arizona single-season record, and an average of 2.8 blocks per game, Koloko demonstrated his defensive brilliance and cemented his status as a defensive juggernaut. Koloko made conference history by being the first player to earn both accolades in the same season when he was also awarded the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player.

“Being inducted was my goal,” Koloko stated. “I’m happy because I did everything I could to achieve that goal,” the speaker said.

In 2022–2023, Koloko’s first season, he averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and one block per game for the Raptors.

Although Koloko’s defensive skills attracted the attention of the Raptors, his offensive shortcomings presented a major challenge, limiting his playing time in the rotation as his rookie campaign came to a close.

Koloko declared, “The NBA is the best league in the world.” “I’m just thankful and grateful [to be in the NBA]; it can’t get any better than that.”

The Raptors stated on October 2, 2023, just before the 2023–2024 season began, that Koloko would be out indefinitely because of persistent respiratory problems. On January 18, Koloko was waived by the team after being out injured for the majority of the first half of the season.

Many organizations expressed interest in signing Koloko right away, but it wasn’t long before it became known that he had a blood clot problem, which seriously jeopardizes his chances of playing in the NBA.

It was difficult. All you have to do is persevere, heal, and regain your health,” Koloko advised. “I want to play basketball outside again.”

Koloko has been reported to the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play Panel; as a result, he is not permitted to play in any games or practices until he has received medical clearance. The league swiftly alerted all teams of this development.

Koloko stated, “I’m still in the program, but I’m getting better.”