Los Angeles Lakers middle Christian Koloko has been medically cleared to play by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel, sources knowledgeable ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday.
Koloko, 24, is anticipated to start practising with the Lakers and can ramp as much as play for the primary time since a blood clot problem threatened his profession final 12 months. He hasn’t performed since April 2023.
Koloko’s agent, Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports activities, stated the middle will start full basketball actions this week. The 7-foot-1 Koloko was the No. 33 decide within the 2022 NBA draft out of the College of Arizona.
Lakers 7-footer Christian Koloko has been medically cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel, sources inform ESPN.
Koloko will start practising with the Lakers this week and ramp as much as play for first time since April 2023 and a blood clot problem that threatened his profession. pic.twitter.com/dS7QrlrptC
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 29, 2024
In 58 regular-season video games with Toronto within the 2022-23 season, he averaged 3.1 factors, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 block, and 13.8 minutes per recreation contest whereas taking pictures 48% from the sector and 62.7% on the free throw line.
Moreover, in Toronto’s 113-104 win over the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 6, 2022, Koloko recorded profession highs of 11 factors and 6 blocks in 31 minutes as a starter. He additionally posted seven rebounds and two assists.
Los Angeles Lakers middle Christian Koloko signed a two-way contract in September
In response to NBA.com, Koloko made an influence on each ends of the court docket throughout his rookie season. The Cameroonian hooper completed with the very best internet score amongst all Raptors gamers to look in not less than 30 video games.
With the Arizona Wildcats, he gained the Pac-12 Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 2021-22 after averaging 12.6 factors, 7.3 rebounds, and a couple of.8 blocks per recreation.
He didn’t play in his second season and was declared “out indefinitely as a result 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 NBA’s fitness-to-play panel consists of a league-appointed physician, a gamers union-appointed physician, and a mutually agreed upon third physician.