3 takeaways after Raptors destroy 76ers in Summer League
By Mike Luciano
2. Christian Koloko is a defensive monster.
Koloko may be a bit of a work in progress, as he picked up six fouls in 28 minutes and shot 4-11 from the field. That doesn’t change the fact that he was very impressive in his first action with Toronto, as his defensive skill was genuinely remarkable for a rookie.
Koloko recorded three steals and three blocks while chipping in with 12 points and seven rebounds. Despite going up against some decently notable names like Charles Bassey and G League standout Michael Foster Jr, Koloko was able to handle them both with relative ease.
Christian Koloko is impressing the Toronto Raptors.
The thing that will get Koloko on the floor over someone like Khem Birch is his shot-blocking skill. That rim protection and impressive mobility for a player his size is the secret ingredient that Toronto has lacked for a few years. What will keep him on the floor is scoring the ball.
Koloko is not going to be a starter in his rookie season, but he will likely factor into Toronto’s plans at some point. Being such a dominant presence on the defensive end is exactly what the Raptors hoped to see from him in his debut. The scoring will come eventually.