8 players from the 2022 NBA Draft class who will outperform their selection

7. Picked 33rd in the 2022 NBA Draft: Christian Koloko

Usually when a player shows out in the NBA Draft combine, their stock rises. Maybe it was a matter of age or poor workouts, but nonetheless, the Toronto Raptors, as usual, got a steal in 22-year-old center Christian Koloko out of Arizona. One of the nation’s better paint defenders, Koloko proved that he didn’t need the ball in his hands much to leave his mark on the game.

Koloko was a defensive menace through five Summer League appearances, posting 2.2 blocks and 1.8 steals per game while attacking the boards and setting his teammates up with a ton of great screens. This is in line with what he showcased as a junior at U of A, where he steadily increased his role and importance to the team over three years.

Ever since the departure of Marc Gasol, the Toronto Raptors have been looking for a true center to hold down the position for them. Although Precious Achiuwa is a great addition to the team, he falls into more of a positionless category in typical Raptors fashion. It’s important for any team to have a guy on the roster whose main job is to box out, attack the glass, alter shots near the basket, set screens and roll to the basket. That’s the baseline to expect from Koloko, who’s only just beginning his developmental track.