With the signing of Christian Koloko, Crvena zvezda has likely completed its center rotation and addressed what it had been missing: more defensive toughness in the paint and better rim protection. But Koloko’s arrival could also be particularly important for Nick Weiler-Babb.
Injuries in the frontcourt have forced Zvezda to improvise around the basket in recent games, affecting the way the team operates offensively. Ibon Navarro has found ways to get the most out of his available players, but the absence of a traditional center who can roll to the basket and finish above the rim has limited some of his guards’ options.
Through six EuroLeague rounds, the German international is averaging just 1.5 points on 4-for-24 shooting from the field, including 1-for-12 from three-point range. Still, he has had some productive stretches as a playmaker, including six assists against both Hapoel and Dubai. His ability to read his teammates and deliver passes at the right moment is not in question, but having a center who poses a genuine threat rolling to the basket would make his job considerably easier.
Weiler-Babb is not a point guard who will consistently beat his defender with an explosive first step, nor is he particularly suited to creating his offense through individual drives. Unlike Chris Jones, who is more dangerous when changing pace, attacking his defender and creating his own shot, the German prefers a more controlled, patient approach that allows him to read the defense and choose the best available option. He is particularly comfortable playing alongside centers who roll hard to the basket after setting a screen and can catch passes thrown above the defense.
Weiler-Babb Already Knows How to Play With This Type of Center
At 211 centimeters, with a wingspan of approximately 226 centimeters, Koloko has the physical tools to be a serious threat in the two-man game. His greatest offensive strength is his ability to roll quickly to the rim after setting a screen and finish with a dunk, even when the pass is not perfectly placed. His length and athleticism allow the ball handler to throw passes high over the defense, which can be especially useful against centers who defend aggressively at the level of the screen.
Weiler-Babb has spent much of his career playing alongside big men with similar characteristics. He played with Devin Booker for years at Bayern Munich and shared the floor last season at Anadolu Efes with Kai Jones, a center whose offensive game relies almost entirely on finishing close to the basket.
Interestingly, Jones shot an extraordinary 92.1 percent from two-point range in the previous EuroLeague season. He rarely tries to create offense outside the paint, instead relying on cuts, high passes and opportunities created by his teammates. That efficiency was remarkable, although it came on a limited number of attempts, as he averaged just 3.6 points in a little over 15 minutes per game.
Against Baskonia in January this year, Weiler-Babb found Kai Jones with a lob that the center finished with an emphatic dunk. Eurohoops Turkey also highlighted the play.
The Lob Can Force Defenses Into a Difficult Choice
Koloko could fill a similar role at Crvena zvezda. When a center becomes a genuine threat rolling toward the rim, his defender has to decide whether to stay with him or help on the ball handler. If he steps toward Weiler-Babb, the lob becomes available. If he stays with Koloko, the point guard has more room to get into the paint, pass to the opposite side or take a midrange jumper.
For that partnership to work, Koloko will need to set effective screens, something that proved problematic at times during his NBA career. Analyses of his performances with the Lakers in 2025 pointed to issues with the physicality of his screens and the timing of his rolls, as well as occasional imprecision on handoffs.
Weiler-Babb does not have the speed to consistently break down the first line of defense on his own, making effective screens particularly important for him. Another problem could arise if opponents begin going under screens and daring him to shoot.
Weiler-Babb’s Shooting Will Determine How Defenses Guard the Action
His 1-for-12 three-point shooting to start the season certainly gives opposing defenses reason to consider that approach. However, it is worth remembering that just two seasons ago, he shot an excellent 43.5 percent from three with Bayern, followed by 36.6 percent last season at Efes. Weiler-Babb has shown in previous seasons that he can shoot the ball very well, but his shooting has been far less consistent this year.
His value as a playmaker has been far more consistent. In his final season with Bayern, he averaged 4.9 assists, followed by 4.8 with Efes, while also contributing considerably more as a scorer than he has so far with Zvezda.
Koloko Is Most Effective When Others Create the Advantage
Koloko, meanwhile, shot just 41.9 percent from the field in his most recent NBA season, albeit on a limited sample of 74 attempts. A year earlier with the Lakers, he had converted 60.6 percent of his shots. He can be extremely effective when receiving the ball in favorable positions, but he has a much harder time finishing through contact or creating his own offense. He lacks a reliable outside shot, and his repertoire of moves with his back to the basket remains fairly limited.
The Cameroonian’s arrival should also improve Zvezda’s rim protection. His block percentage stood at 5.9 percent in his most recent NBA season, while his mobility and length allow him to provide help from the weak side and challenge opposing guards at the rim. However, he has also struggled at times with positioning, boxing out and foul trouble, factors Navarro will have to account for when determining his role and minutes.
Koloko Could Help Weiler-Babb Find His Offensive Rhythm
Signing Koloko is primarily a response to Zvezda’s problems at center and the need to ease the burden on Semi Ojeleye. But his arrival could be particularly valuable for Weiler-Babb, who is still searching for offensive consistency in a Zvezda uniform.
The German has shown in previous seasons how effective he can be as a playmaker, while Koloko is at his best when he does not have to manufacture his own points. Their pick-and-roll chemistry could play an important role in further improving Zvezda’s half-court offense.
