The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to welcome a new center to their roster as Christian Koloko has been medically cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel to return to league basketball, per ESPN.
Christian Koloko Officially Cleared, Joins Los Angeles Lakers
Koloko was officially given medical clearance to participate in NBA basketball activities Tuesday morning, approximately one month after signing with the Lakers to a two-way contract with G-League side South Bay Lakers.
The 24-year-old center was waived by the Toronto Raptors in January 2024 and placed on the NBA fitness-to-play protocol just a day later due to issues with blood clots. Before then, Koloko had not played a game in the NBA since April 2023.
Originally drafted in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft as the Toronto Raptor’s 33rd pick, Koloko came off a standout junior year with the University of Arizona Wildcats where he was awarded Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, All-Defensive Team, and All-Pac-12 First Team.
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The 7-footer averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 13.8 minutes during his tenure with the Raptors.
Koloko was added to the Lakers in hopes of deepening the Lakers’ paper-thin center rotation, especially in light of Christian Wood’s season-delaying knee surgery and Colin Castleton’s departure from the Lakers roster.
Standing at 7’0” and boasting a 7’5” wingspan, the Cameroonian player hopes to use his size and rim-protection skills to aid the Lakers and South Bay Lakers in rebounding and interior defense.
The Los Angeles Lakers continue their five-game road trip in Ohio where they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday evening at 4 pm PST.
It is unclear if Christian Koloko will play with the team for this game, but his agent Calvin Andrews of Clutch Sports did confirm plans to resume full basketball activities this week.