Los Angeles Lakers centre Christian Koloko has cleared a big hurdle in his bid to return to the NBA.
The former Toronto Raptor has been medically cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel to return from a blood-clot issue, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
Koloko is expected to begin practising with the Lakers this week as he hopes to play for the first time since April 2023 with the Raptors.
The 24-year-old big man, who signed with the Lakers in September, was working on finalizing a return to the league last season after he dealt with what the Raptors called “respiratory issues.” Charania reported in January that Koloko was suffering from a blood-clot issue and had been referred to the league’s fitness-to-play panel, preventing him from playing for or practising with an NBA team.
Koloko, a 33rd-overall pick by Toronto in 2022, was waived by the Raptors in January after the team traded Pascal Siakam to Indiana for three players.
In 58 games with the Raptors in 2022-23, Koloko averaged 13.8 minutes, 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.