Featured Columnist IVOctober 29, 2024
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Los Angeles Lakers huge man Christian Koloko reportedly cleared an vital step in his journey again to the court docket.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel medically cleared Koloko to return. The 24-year-old hasn’t performed in an NBA sport since April 2023 due to a blood clot subject that when appeared like it might threaten his complete profession.
The plan is for Koloko to begin working towards with the Lakers this week and ramp up till he is able to take part in video games.
Earlier this month, Charania and Dave McMenamin defined the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel consisted of a league-appointed physician, a gamers union-appointed physician and a mutually agreed-upon third physician.
The identical report famous the Lakers have been optimistic concerning the Arizona product’s standing, which absolutely performed a job of their choice to signal him to a two-way deal within the offseason.
Koloko entered the league as a second-round draft decide of the Toronto Raptors in 2022.
He appeared in 58 video games as a rookie and averaged 3.1 factors, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks whereas capturing 48 % from the sector in 13.8 minutes per sport. Whereas he wasn’t a significant contributor, he appeared effectively on his solution to turning into a strong inside defender who may present frontcourt depth for the Raptors.
Nonetheless, he did not play in his second season and was declared “out indefinitely because of respiratory points” in October 2023.
Toronto then waived him in January 2024 to finish the commerce that despatched Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers.
The Lakers signed him this offseason, however Charania reported the Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs have been additionally .
When he does return, Los Angeles can use him as vital depth behind Anthony Davis. It may additionally select to ship him to the G League as a manner of working his manner again into type earlier than turning into a possible piece of the rotation for the Purple and Gold.
