The Lakers will be adding a promising young player to their center rotation soon. Christian Koloko, whom the Lakers signed to a two-way contract this past summer, has been cleared to participate in basketball activities by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel, per ESPN. Koloko is expected to participate in practice as he ramps up to play in the NBA for the first time since April 2023.
Koloko, who was a second-round draft pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, had been under a medical advisement to not play due to blood clots that could’ve threatened his ability to still play in the NBA. Koloko was forced to sit out all of last season due to the blood clots, and was then waived by the Raptors and was referred to the league’s fitness-to-play panel. Toronto waived Koloko so the team could make room to facilitate the Pascal Siakam trade with the Pacers, and while teams were interested in picking him up at the time, the league informed the other 29 teams he first has to be medically cleared before playing again.
Koloko remained unsigned during the 2023-24 season, but agreed to a two-way deal with the Lakers this offseason. Prior to the start of the season, Lakers president Rob Pelinka expressed optimisim that Koloko would be cleared to play sooner rather than later.
Lakers center Christian Koloko medically cleared to play for first time since April 2023, per report
