Lakers Sign Cameroon-Born Christian Koloko Following Season-Long Absence

Center Christian Koloko, who missed the entire 2023-24 NBA season due to a blood clot issue, has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to reports from The Athletic and the Los Angeles Times.

The 7-foot center was sidelined last season with the Toronto Raptors and was placed on the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play Panel due to health concerns. He was waived by the Raptors in January 2024. Before Christian Koloko can return to the court, he must be cleared by the panel, though he is permitted to sign with a team in the meantime.

Christian Koloko, 24, hails from Cameroon and was selected by the Raptors in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft out of Arizona. During his rookie season in 2022-23, he averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 13.8 minutes per game across 58 appearances, including 19 starts.

The Lakers, in need of frontcourt depth, are looking to bolster their lineup around All-Star Anthony Davis. The team has center Jaxson Hayes, but other key players such as Christian Wood (knee surgery), Jarred Vanderbilt (foot injury), and Rui Hachimura (calf strain from the Paris Olympics) are currently dealing with health issues. Koloko’s signing could provide much-needed reinforcement for the Lakers’ frontcourt rotation.

Christian Koloko was selected 33rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. On August 26, 2022, he signed a rookie-scale contract with the team. However, on January 17, 2024, Koloko was waived by the Raptors. The following day, he was placed into the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play panel after the discovery of career-threatening blood clot issues. As a result, no team can claim him off waivers or sign him until he is medically cleared to return to play.

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