10/15/2026
Christian Koloko made it to the NBA in 2022. A year later, a mysterious blood clot in his lungs put his career on hold, and doctor after doctor told him he'd likely be on blood thinners for life, unable to play again.
At Cedars-Sinai, Ali Azizzadeh, MD, director of the Division of Vascular Surgery, diagnosed Koloko with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition where repetitive overhead motion in sports like basketball can narrow a major vein. Surgeons removed his first rib and surrounding scar tissue, then widened the vein to restore normal blood flow.
Just months later, Koloko was cleared to play. He opens the 2026-27 season with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Click the link to read his full story: https://ceda.rs/4diLFdD