The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the 2025 NBA Playoffs without Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison, who were not converted from two-way contracts before the end of the regular season.
As reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, both big men practiced with the team ahead of the postseason and will remain around the squad, but league rules prevent them from participating in playoff games due to their two-way status.
Koloko, 24, rejoined active competition this season after missing the entire 2023-24 campaign because of blood clot complications.
The 7-footer contributed in 37 games for the Lakers, averaging 2.4 points and2.5 rebounds in just over 9 minutes per contest, offering rim protection and size off the bench.
Jemison, 25, appeared in 22 games and averaged 2.5 points in 10.3 minutes, giving Los Angeles additional depth in the frontcourt during stretches of the season when key players were sidelined.
Despite their limited roles, both centers were valuable practice bodies and helped the Lakers navigate a long regular season that ended with the team securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference at 50-32.
By rule, two-way players must be converted to standard NBA contracts before the end of the regular season to be eligible for postseason play. The Lakers did not make such a move for Koloko or Jemison prior to the deadline.
Their absence narrows Los Angeles’ available size heading into the opening round matchup against the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who finished 49-33 behind big men Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.
