Devastated Memphis signs former Lakers center

The The Memphis Grizzlies are currently facing a major injury crisiswith more stars including talisman Ja Morant who is currently absent. However, reinforcements have arrived in the form of none other than Christian Kolok, who the Grizzlies signed to a 10-day hardship contract.

According to Shams Charani, Memphis brought in the former Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors center in an attempt to stabilize his depleted frontcourt amid a growing absentee list.

Memphis is signing Koloko to a 10-day contract via a hardship exception, which allows the team to add a player earlier than standard league rules typically allow. The Grizzlies qualified for an exception due to multiple long-term injuries which significantly thinned out their rotation.

Koloko joins Memphis after starting the current season with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he made two short appearances without scoring. He was waived in late November to make room on the roster for big man Drew Timme, ending a brief stint following his re-signing with the Lakers over the summer.

Now in his third NBA season, the 6-foot-11, 225-pound center spent the 2024–25 campaign with Los Angeles, appearing in 37 games and averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest.

During his first two NBA seasons with the Lakers and Toronto Raptors, Koloko appeared in 95 games, including 19 starts, while posting career averages of 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 12 minutes per game. Drafted 33rd overall by Toronto in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Arizona, he showed promise during his rookie season by appearing in 58 games.

That momentum was halted when he was diagnosed with a blood clot problem, a serious medical concern that sidelined him and eventually led to him being ruled unfit to play. The Raptors waived Kollock in January 2024, and his future in the league remained uncertain until he was medically cleared and officially reinstated in October 2024.

That release opened the door for him to return, first with the Lakers and now with Memphis. For the Grizzlies, the signing is less about long-term planning and more about immediate survival.

Memphis is currently dealing with a series of injuries that have disrupted continuity and limited roster flexibility. Guards Scottie Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome have been sidelined for extended periods with foot and calf injuries, further thinning the backcourt.