Christian Koloko is back.
The fomer Toronto Raptors center played in his first NBA game in 18 months.
Koloko battled a blood clotting issue while he was with the Raptors that forced him to step away from basketball last season.
The Raptors were hoping he would be able to overcome the issue and make a return to the team, however Toronto decided to part ways with him in January.
The Lakers then signed Koloko to a two-way contract on Sept 16.
On Nov. 6, Koloko made his Lakers debut and returned to NBA action. He played in 13 minutes off the bench for the Lakers who called him up from the G League on late notice following an injury to Anthony Davis.
“It was amazing. Like I said, this last year and a half, it was probably the toughest time of my life. Just not knowing if I was going to play basketball again and me and my family went through a lot this past year and a half. We’re just happy,” Koloko told reporters postgame.
The 24-year-old scored his first points as a Laker when he put through a two-handed dunk. He cut in from the left corner following a pass from Austin Reeves out of the pick-and-roll.
Christian Koloko’s first NBA points since April 9, 2023 pic.twitter.com/ZQ5jzkqEHI
— Amit Mann (@Amit_Mann) November 7, 2024
Koloko also added a block as he swatted a Jake LaRavia layup attempt out of bounds in the first quarter.
“It felt great. When I saw him, I was like I better get this block because if he scored that it would be a bad look on me….then when I got it I was like yeah, maybe I’m back. I was happy,” Koloko said.
If Davis remains out for the Lakers, the Raptors will likely see Koloko on Nov. 10 when Toronto travels to Los Angeles to play the Lakers.
Kings Owner Vivek Ranadive sides with former Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan has the support of Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive.
Ranadive showed up to Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors wearing a t-shirt that read “they not like us,” which is a lyric from Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.”
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