Report: Lakers' Koloko medically cleared to play

Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Koloko has been medically cleared by the NBA's fitness-to-play panel and will begin practicing with the team this week, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

A blood clot issue kept the Cameroonian out of action for the entire 2023-24 campaign.

Koloko, 24, inked a two-way deal with the Lakers in September but needed clearance from the league before he could return to basketball activities.

After he spent three seasons at Arizona, the Toronto Raptors drafted Koloko No. 33 in the 2022 draft. He averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and one block during his rookie campaign.

The 7-foot-1 center was a terrific defender in college - winning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 - and showed flashes as a pick-and-roll big man during his time with the Raptors. He'll provide some depth behind Anthony Davis, who captured the first Western Conference Player of the Week award of the new season.

The Lakers have started the season 3-1 under first-time head coach JJ Redick. Their next game will be against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.