Arizona had three players taken in the 2022 NBA Draft, with each seeing significant playing time for their respective teams as a rookie. But this past season was a different story, with Christian Koloko unable to play due to a life-threatening medical issue related to blood clots.
Cleared to return to basketball, Koloko has found a spot to re-launch his NBA career.
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed the former UA center to a two-way contract, meaning he is likely to split time between the NBA club and its G League affiliate the South Bay Lakers. Other teams reportedly interested in Kolojo were the Los Angeles Clippers, the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, the team that drafted him in the second round in 2022.
OFFICIAL: Lakers sign center Christian Koloko to a two-way contract. pic.twitter.com/VSISCe9JO0
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 16, 2024
The 7-foot-1 Koloko last played in 2022-23 for the Raptors. He appeared in 58 games with 19 starts as a rookie, averaging 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.
The blood clot issue kept him out of action in 2023-24, with the Raptors eventually releasing him.
The 24-year-old Koloko spent three years at Arizona, appearing in 91 games with 56 starts, and as a junior he was Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player. The DPOY honor qualified Koloko for Arizona’s Ring of Honor, to which he was inducted in February.