Former Toronto Raptors centre Christian Koloko appears to be working towards a return to the NBA.
According to The Sun's Damian Burchardt, Koloko held a private workout in front of several dozen NBA personnel in Las Vegas on Saturday morning.
The 24-year-old Koloko missed all of last season due to blood clot issues that first developed before Summer League last summer. The ailment was officially deemed a “respiratory issue” by the Raptors, which led to Koloko being sidelined indefinitely.
Toronto started the season with Koloko but was forced to waive the 7-foot sophomore after Pascal Siakam was traded to the Indiana Pacers in January.
Koloko has reportedly been cleared by his doctor to return, but Burchardt wrote that he still needs approval from the NBA's Fitness-to-Play Committee before he can return to NBA action. The former Arizona Wildcats player has filed paperwork to return to the league.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri said the team was monitoring Koloko's end-of-season media availability. Toronto selected Koloko with the 33rd pick in the 2022 draft.
Koloko showed promise as a rookie, starting 19 of the 58 games he played in for the Raptors and averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Toronto no longer owns Koloko's rights after waiving him, but the organization could still re-sign him if they're willing to part with at least one current player on the roster.
According to Sportsnet reporter Michael Grange, Koloko has been in Las Vegas with the Raptors and was in attendance at Toronto's Summer League opener on Saturday.
According to Burchardt, Eric Bledsoe, Talen Horton-Tucker, Cory Joseph, Austin Rivers, DJ Wilson, Thon Maker, BJ Boston and Juan Toscano-Anderson have all worked out with Koloco.
