Raptors: 3 lottery picks Christian Koloko is outperforming

The Toronto Raptors may not have had the benefit of a first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but they managed to take on of the draft’s best centers regardless. Arizona’s Christian Koloko was taken No. 33 overall in a fairly surprising move. How could the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year fall so far?

While Koloko is averaging just 3.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his stints with the Raptors, he’s proven to be a capable defender and post presence on a team that currently lacks both of those in spades. Andrew Nembhard is the only second-round player outperforming Koloko right now.

Not only has his improved play over the last few weeks shown that Koloko should have been an easy first-round pick, but his numbers prove that some of the more hyped players that went above him in the draft lottery should have been considered inferior prospects.

These three players were picked ahead of Koloko in the NBA Draft Lottery, but they haven’t been able to replicate the consistent performances that the former Wildcats star has authored during his time with the Raptors. With his place in the rotation secure, Koloko will continue to further his advantage.

3 lottery picks Toronto Raptors rookie Christian Koloko is outplaying.

3. Ochai Agbaji, Utah Jazz

Agbaji was expected to be one of the first guards off the bench in Cleveland, but the Donoval Mitchell trade shipped him out to Utah. Much like Nickeil Alexander-Walker over the last few seasons, Agbaji has found it hard to crack the rotation despite fellow rookie Walker Kessler having no such issues.

Agbaji, who was the primary scorer on a Kansas Jayhawks team that won a national championship last season, is averaging just 3.6 points per game and has only scored more than 10 points twice in a game. Agbaji has appeared in 21 games, yet has played more than seven minutes in just 10 of them.

Toronto Raptors: Christian Koloko is scoring more than Ochai Agbaji.

Koloko is going to score most of his points right at the basket, but his game-clinching 3-pointer against the Suns a few days ago and some recent midrange makes attest to the fact that he is starting to expand his offensive game gradually. Giving him a steady helping of minutes has been critical to these improvements.

Agbaji, meanwhile, is struggling to break through on a Utah team that is very clearly playing with house money this year and eyeing the future. Agbaji has the skills needed to turn it on if he gets minutes, but it might be hard to envision when he will get an extended opportunity.