A Special Connection

When Christian Koloko had the biggest moment of his basketball career to date – knocking down his first NBA three with just under two minutes remaining to give the Raptors a six-point lead – the reactions ranged from surprise and shock to joy and relief.

Beyond the obvious disappointment of losing, Phoenix Suns centre Bismack Biyombo just felt old.

When Koloko was a 16-year-old back in 2017, he left Cameroon for the first time in order to attend a Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa. Biyombo, eight years Koloko’s senior and a year removed from a magical year with the Raptors in which he helped the franchise make its first-ever Eastern Conference Finals appearance, briefly came across this long-limbed, seven-foot kid for the first time.

To now see him getting NBA minutes and delivering in the clutch was a full circle moment for the big man who’s always looking to give back to his home continent as well as with big ties to Toronto.

“There’s so many kids that I’ve seen grow and now they’re in the league and I gotta play against them,” Biyombo said. “They’re all growing up and it’s like, ‘Come on, man.’ It was so amazing to see him being drafted, it was so amazing to see him being able to play and I think one of the things we’re so blessed about is just being in this environment. Being able to help these young guys at some point in their lives and then you see them make it, some of them you’ve helped from early on, it just brings joy to my eyes to be honest.

“You want nothing but to see kids be successful and find some comfort in the league and establish themselves. Obviously he’s still got a ways to go, still gotta establish himself, build up his body, but I think everything at some point will come together and he’s gonna reach the sky.”

Shortly after that first interaction in South Africa, Koloko’s exploits at the camp had him dreaming big about basketball and a move to Southern California later that year followed. When Biyombo, then a member of the Orlando Magic, got word that Koloko was in L.A. – where he also happened to be working out, he invited the youngster to join him at the gym.

Koloko watched Biyombo’s trainer work him out like it was his favourite movie, trying to soak in every little detail. Once the workout was done, Biyombo encouraged him to be patient with his body, to not force the issue with its growth and just eat and lift weights regularly. He also reminded him of the responsibility that comes with representing Africa, and the work ethic needed to make it to the NBA. To finish, Biyombo offered Koloko the opportunity to have his trainer work him out and then asked for his shoe size.

“It was amazing, it was amazing,” Koloko said, shaking his head with a sense of wonder and appreciation. “That was actually the first week I moved to the U.S. At that time I was wearing shoe size 16 and I think he was wearing size 16 as well. He said he’s got a bunch of shoes at home and he’s gonna send me a couple and he did. It was a nice moment for me.”

Providing shoes as a gift has special meaning to Biyombo, who didn’t have his first fresh pair of sneakers until he left his native Congo at the age of 16. Among the many ways in which Bismack’s parents would look to support their son’s dreams, within their means, used shoes were among them. When Bismack landed not just his four-year, $72-million NBA contract in 2016 but also became a Jordan Brand athlete, it opened the door to giving back in all the ways he dreamed of.

That’s how Koloko got his first pair of Jordans. The 22-year-old has grown a fair bit since that first interaction almost six years ago, including moving on to size 17 shoes, but the sense of appreciation is as fresh as ever.

After answering questions from the media about his big night, Koloko strolled towards the player tunnel in preparation for an exit and there Biyombo was, headed in the same direction. Suns superstar point guard Chris Paul, who also crossed paths with Koloko during the 2017-18 season because of a connection with former Rockets teammate and Cameroonian Luc Mbah a Moute, then commiserated with Biyombo over how old the moment made them feel and shared a few laughs before reflecting on how far Koloko had come.

Where Koloko goes from here is an impossible question to answer, but regardless of whatever status he may attain during his time in the NBA, the way in which Biyombo went out of his way for him has left an indelible mark and has left him hoping he can have the opportunity to pay it forward as well.

Koloko leaves no doubt his focus is currently on his rookie season and establishing himself as an NBA player, but just as he had no inkling of shying away from his big moment Friday night against the Suns, Koloko is eager to help build a better future for the kids back home who dream of following in the footsteps of the many African players who have made a success of their NBA journey.

“There’s a place in the back of my head where I’m thinking about doing some stuff back home to give back to the community and just help people,” Koloko said. “I know a lot of people who have a lot of talent back home and just need the opportunity. Even me, I have a lot of friends who are way better than me and needed the opportunity but just didn’t have it.

“I feel like there’s a lot of talent in Africa and for sure I’m thinking about doing stuff for back home.”