A former Toronto Raptors center Christian Koloko is thrust into a very dangerous and difficult situation that holds greater importance than within the world of basketball.
The former Arizona Wildcats big man, known for his defensive ability, sadly finds himself sidelined indefinitely by the Raptors’ staff due to a career-threatening blood clot issue. This unforeseen health crisis casts a shadow over the 23-year-old’s future in the NBA.
What happened to Christian Koloko?
Christian Koloko, the promising former Toronto Raptors center, confronts a dire challenge that extends far beyond the basketball court. The 7-foot-tall big man is grappling with a severe blood clot issue and is currently labeled as unfit for any professional play for the entire season.
In a recent report by Shams Charania of The Athletic, it was revealed that Koloko’s future in the NBA now hinges on the decision of the Fitness-to-Play Panel. This unfortunate hurdle is currently preventing him from participating in any on-court activities until he receives medical clearance.
Since being waived to accommodate new additions from the Pascal Siakam trade, namely Bruce Brown Jr., Kira Lewis Jr., and Jordan Nwora, Koloko’s future remains uncertain.
The Raptors, who were initially trying to make more room for incoming players like Bruce Brown Jr., Kira Lewis Jr., and Jordan Nwora, in a trade that involves Pascal Siakam, seems to be a difficult task to accomplish with Koloko’s present medical conditions.
The Raptors’ president, Masai Ujiri, refrained from diving into specific details about Koloko’s medical status during a recent press conference by diverting the attention to the gravity of the situation and expressing his well wishes and hopes for the talented center’s return to the league.
“His medical status is now in the hands of the NBA and I can’t comment on it. But that’s a very tough one for us because (Koloko was) somebody we really believed in, someone that I know has incredible talent, and we saw as a future on this team. But we’ve exhausted all our options there and I can’t comment on what it is particularly.
“It’s now in the hands of the NBA and I stay private with my comments on him. But it’s really unfortunate for us, because this is a player that we felt was really a big part of our future and someone that’s part of the programs we’ve built in Africa, and what we believe is now a true pipeline of how we get future players in the NBA. This was a big one for us and it didn’t work out that way for now.”
Koloko’s NBA career
The Toronto Raptors’ center, Christian Koloko, once an unsung rookie before he could even rise to become a star for the franchise, is currently facing a life-changing career that could probably question his term in the NBA.
Koloko’s journey began in the NBA when the Raptors picked him as the 33rd overall pick out of Arizona in the 2022 draft.
With very limited playing time in his rookie year, Koloko’s rookie season was marred by a notable incident in October 2022, a scuffle with the Miami Heat’s Caleb Martin during a heated rebound contest.
However, Koloko made sure to showcase his potential, especially on the defensive end, by averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 58 games, including 19 starts.
His college achievements, such as earning the First-team All-Pac-12 honors and being named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, highlight the rookie’s talent, which now faces an uncertain future in the NBA.
The Raptors, having waived his right to facilitate a trade, carelessly set a state of struggle for themselves that extends beyond the court. While the Fitness-To-Play Panel, which was a critical obstacle for Koloko’s journey, now holds the key decision to whether he can resume playing professional basketball or not.
As the Canadian fans wait for a positive response in the interest of having their center back in good health, the main question is, will he remain the same or become a better player after he returns indefinitely?
Let us know what you think in the comments down below!
