Lakers Rumors: Christian Koloko cleared to play in NBA after blood clot problem | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Los Angeles Lakers big man Christian Koloko has reportedly taken a major step in his journey back to the court.

ESPNs Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel medically cleared Koloko to return. The 24-year-old hasn’t played an NBA game since April 2023 due to a blood clot problem that once seemed to threaten his entire career.

The plan is for Koloko to start practicing with the Lakers this week and ramp it up until he’s ready to compete.

Earlier this month, Charania and Dave McMenamin explained that the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel consisted of a league-appointed physician, a players’ union-appointed physician and a mutually agreed upon third-party physician.

The same report noted that the Lakers were optimistic about the Arizona product’s status, which certainly played a role in their decision to sign him to a two-way deal this offseason.

Koloko entered the league in 2022 as a second-round draft pick of the Toronto Raptors.

He appeared in 58 games as a rookie and averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting 48 percent from the field in 13.8 minutes per game. While he wasn’t a major contributor, he seemed well on his way to becoming a solid interior defender who could provide frontcourt depth for the Raptors.

However, he did not play in his second season and was “indefinitely sidelined due to respiratory problems” in October 2023.

Toronto then waived him in January 2024 to complete the trade that sent Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers.

The Lakers signed him this offseason, but Charania reported that the Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs were also interested.

When he does return, Los Angeles can use him as a key depth piece behind Anthony Davis. They could also opt to send him to the G League as a way to get back into shape before he becomes a potential part of the rotation for the Purple and Gold.