Lakers Secure Two-Way Deal with Christian Koloko

Christian Koloko was well on his way to making a name for himself in the NBA. However, he took an unexpected turn that made him miss the 2023-24 season. The Toronto Raptors selected the 7-foot-1 center in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.

Still, he had great difficulty being active for the majority of the season due to a severe illness caused by blood clots. Koloko was coming off a perfect rookie season in which he started 19 out of the 58 matches he played, averaging 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocked shots per game.

Considering that his injuries have been treated and the doctors have given him medical clearance, Koloko is ready to continue his career in basketball, having signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have signed the Arizona University Center in a two-way contract.

This means, however, that most of Koloko’s seasons playing will involve the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and their G League team, the South Bay Lakers.

Koloko Draws Widespread Interest

Koloko’s interest in the Lakers was not short of interest from other teams.

Before joining the Lakers, other teams that were reportedly interested in the center were the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, and his previous team, the Toronto Raptors. This pushback to professional basketball is not merely a pointer to how resilient he is but also to how esteemed he is by people from the NBA.

Koloko has progressed in his development as a player ever since he entered college at Arizona, particularly in his last year. As a third-year player, he was named both Pac-12’s best defensive player and most improved player of the year.

Coupled with this was being inducted into Arizona’s ring of honor after these significant impacts on the court played a role in his winning one. Currently, while embarking on his NBA journey once again with the Lakers, Koloko is tasked with working his way back into shape to demonstrate that he can still compete at the highest level despite the serious health problems he had previously encountered.