Last week, i Los Angeles Lakers they suffered a heavy defeat against the Grizzlies. With the final result and the way the team played, there wasn’t much to salvage from the night. However, the only bright spot was the return of center Christian Koloko to the NBA.
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🇨🇲 Christian Koloko: «It was the most difficult period of my life»
Picked in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, Christian Koloko he hadn’t played an NBA game since April 9, 2023, when his rookie season with the Raptors came to an end. Before the start of the 2023/24 season, the Cameroonian center was diagnosed with thrombosis, forcing him to stop playing. After being cut by Toronto, he spent the entirety of last season away from the field.
The Lakers decided to give him an opportunity earlier this season when his condition was improving. With the need to add depth at the center role, Koloko’s arrival seemed like the right choice. After a lot of training, he finally made his season debut against Memphis. “It was all pretty crazy. I was there getting ready to go to practice with the South Bay Lakers, then yesterday I got a call from Rob (Pelinka), who told me they might need me. He sent me the flight details, and at that moment I thought, “I’m going to give everything I have for the team.” Unfortunately we couldn’t win, but I’m just happy to be back and be able to play basketball again.”
The center out of the University of Arizona spoke about the approach he had on the pitch, underlining however that, for him, the most important thing is to be healthy: «I was just trying to execute the gameplan. As I said, unfortunately we lost, but personally I was just happy to be there. This was my first game in a year and a half, so it’s been a long time. I’m really grateful to be able to play basketball again.”
For Koloko and his family, as expected, it was a very emotional experience: «It was incredible. I think this was probably the hardest time of my life, not knowing if I could play basketball again. My family and I have faced a lot of difficulties in the last year and a half, so I’m really happy… I know that for my mother and my sister it was a great emotion, for me too, but I didn’t want to show it. I’m just grateful, like I said, to be able to play again. I will give everything I have to help the team whenever I am called upon to do so.”
As expected, it was an extremely emotional experience for Koloko and her family: «It was incredible. I think this was probably the hardest time of my life, not knowing if I could play basketball again. In the last eighteen months we have faced many difficulties, both me and my family, so I am really happy… I know that for my mother and my sister it was a great emotion; for me too, but I didn’t want to show it. Like I said, I’m just grateful to be able to play again and I’ll give everything to help the team whenever I’m called upon.”
The Lakers hope they can gradually increase Christian Koloko’s involvement as the team continues to suffer from a lack of options at the center position. With Christian Wood still recovering, having another option becomes essential.
Christian Koloko with the block! pic.twitter.com/bcDP28Jmh1
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 7, 2024
📅 Next Game
I Los Angeles Lakers they return to the field in the night (3.30 🇮🇹) between Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th November to face the Memphis Grizzlies all crypto.com Arena.
On the cover: Christian Koloko (Lakers.com)
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