Alright, hoop heads, buckle up! We’ve got some juicy news about a towering talent eyeing a return to the NBA.
### Lakers Eyeing Koloko: A Big Man’s Return?
So, here’s the scoop: The Lakers are leading the race to snag Christian Koloko, the 7-foot-1 center who’s gearing up for an NBA comeback. Shams Charania from The Athletic dropped this bombshell, and it’s got everyone buzzing.
Koloko, who’s only 24, is waiting on the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play panel to give him the green light. But he’s not short on suitors—the Raptors, Clippers, and Spurs are all in the mix too. This dude’s got options!
### From College Star to NBA Hopeful
Koloko’s journey has been pretty wild. Drafted 33rd overall by Toronto in 2022, he signed a three-year deal worth $5.24 million. Not too shabby for a University of Arizona product, right?
In his rookie season, he played 58 games, starting in 22 of them. His stats? Solid but not mind-blowing—3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1 block per game. But hey, he shot 48% from the field, which ain’t bad at all. And let’s not forget his breakout game against the Bulls where he dropped 11 points and swatted six shots. Talk about making a statement!
7-footer Christian Koloko is finalizing a return to the NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers are frontrunners to sign him among Raptors, Clippers and Spurs, sources tell @TheAthletic. Koloko is awaiting clearance to play from NBA’s fitness panel; however, he is eligible to sign now.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
### The Health Hurdle
Now, here’s where things get tricky. Koloko was waived by Toronto in January 2024 to make room for Pascal Siakam’s trade to the Pacers. Shortly after, he got sidelined by the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play panel due to some scary blood clots. He was out indefinitely with “respiratory issues” since October 2023. No team could touch him until he got the all-clear from the docs.
But guess what? He’s eligible to sign now, even though he can’t hit the court just yet. In my opinion, that’s a gamble worth taking for a team like the Lakers who need some frontcourt depth.
### What Koloko Brings to the Lakers
If the Lakers land Koloko, he could be a game-changer. Imagine him alongside Anthony Davis and Jarred Vanderbilt. That’s a defensive wall right there. According to NBA.com, Koloko had the best net rating among Raptors who played at least 30 games last season. Dude can ball on both ends of the floor!
But let’s keep it real—he’s got to stay healthy. If he can overcome these health issues, the Lakers might have found themselves a hidden gem.
So, what do you think? Will Koloko make a splash in LA, or will his health issues hold him back? Drop your thoughts below!
