Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko are not eligible to play for the #Lakers in the playoffs, and here is why:
As the 2025 NBA Playoffs get underway, the Los Angeles Lakers have finalized their postseason roster in preparation for a high-stakes run through the Western Conference. With championship ambitions, every roster spot counts. While fans may have noticed two intriguing names associated with the Lakers this season—Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko—neither of them will suit up for the Lakers during the playoffs. Why not?
Despite spending time within the Lakers organization this year, both players are ineligible for the playoffs due to NBA rules surrounding two-way contracts, timing of acquisitions, and roster registration deadlines. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about their situation, the league’s playoff eligibility rules, and what it all means for the Lakers moving forward.
Who Are Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko?
Trey Jemison
Trey Jemison is a 6-foot-11 center who played college basketball at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Known for his rebounding and rim protection, Jemison went undrafted in 2023 but found a role with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, where he earned a two-way contract with the parent club later in the season.
Jemison impressed with his size and physicality, giving the Lakers additional frontcourt depth during parts of the regular season. However, despite dressing for a handful of games, he never became a regular part of Darvin Ham’s main rotation.
Christian Koloko
Christian Koloko is a 7-foot shot-blocking specialist who was originally drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2022. After a solid rookie campaign, his 2023–24 season was interrupted by a serious medical issue involving blood clots, which sidelined him indefinitely. Upon being medically cleared later in the season, Koloko was waived by Toronto and later picked up by the Lakers under a two-way contract.
Like Jemison, Koloko did not appear in meaningful regular-season games for the Lakers and was primarily used for developmental purposes.
What Is a Two-Way Contract and Why Does It Matter?
The core of this issue lies in how the NBA structures two-way contracts and their role in roster eligibility for the playoffs.
Understanding Two-Way Contracts
Introduced in 2017, two-way contracts are designed to allow NBA teams to develop young players without committing a full roster spot. Each NBA team can have up to three players on two-way deals. These players can move between the NBA and G League teams but are limited in terms of NBA game availability—usually up to 50 regular season games.
Key Limitation: No Playoff Eligibility
Per NBA rules, players on two-way contracts are not eligible to participate in the NBA Playoffs unless their contracts are converted to standard NBA contracts before the regular season ends. This is a strict cutoff. If a team wants a two-way player available for the postseason, they must:
- Waive a current player to make room on the 15-man standard roster.
- Convert the two-way deal to a full contract before the playoffs begin.
Since neither Jemison nor Koloko had their contracts converted, they are automatically ineligible.
Why Didn’t the Lakers Convert Their Contracts?
Now that we understand the rule, the next logical question is: Why didn’t the Lakers convert Jemison or Koloko to the standard roster?
Here are several reasons:
1. Roster Space Was Limited
The Lakers had a full 15-man standard roster by the end of the regular season. Converting a two-way contract would have meant waiving a current player—a tough decision with playoff chemistry at stake. The Lakers are already juggling roles between veterans and rising contributors, so letting go of a healthy, contributing player was not worth the risk.
2. Playoff Readiness
While both Jemison and Koloko have upside, neither has played significant minutes for the Lakers’ main team this year. The playoffs demand immediate production and high basketball IQ under pressure. The coaching staff likely felt they weren’t ready for that stage just yet.
3. Focus on Veteran Depth
The Lakers loaded their roster with experience. With players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and others leading the charge, the front office chose to surround them with reliable role players rather than developmental prospects.
Why Do Fans Care About Jemison and Koloko?
Despite not being household names, both players sparked interest among Lakers fans, especially during the final months of the regular season when teams often test out depth. Here’s why they’ve attracted attention:
- Jemison brought hustle and rebounding—a skillset reminiscent of Dwight Howard in his return stint with the Lakers.
- Koloko showed promise as a rim protector in Toronto and still has intriguing potential if his health stays on track.
There were calls from fans to get them involved in the playoff rotation, especially with the Lakers occasionally thin in the frontcourt. But again, playoff games are not developmental opportunities—they are win-or-go-home scenarios.
Could They Have Been Eligible?
Technically, yes.
Had the Lakers:
- Converted either player’s contract to a standard deal before the regular season ended, and
- Waived someone else to make room,
Then they could have added them to the playoff roster. But making such a move requires great confidence that the converted player would actually contribute. The Lakers didn’t feel that was the case.
What Happens Next for Jemison and Koloko?
Their playoff ineligibility doesn’t mark the end of their Lakers journey.
Trey Jemison
- He will remain under team control via his two-way deal.
- He could play in Summer League and training camp.
- A strong showing could earn him a full contract next season.
Christian Koloko
- With a full offseason to train and regain his form post-surgery, Koloko is expected to reassert himself as a rotation-level big man.
- The Lakers may evaluate him as a low-cost rim protector if they have cap flexibility issues in 2025–26.
Both players are part of the Lakers’ long-term developmental pipeline, even if they’re not immediate contributors in the postseason.
Lakers’ Playoff Focus
Now that the postseason has begun, the Lakers’ focus is squarely on:
- Managing the health of LeBron and AD,
- Getting consistent perimeter shooting,
- Winning key rebounding battles against physical teams like Minnesota.
Given this playoff pressure, there simply isn’t room for unproven players on the active roster.
Conclusion
To summarize:
- Trey Jemison and Christian Koloko are not eligible for the 2025 NBA Playoffs because they are on two-way contracts, which do not qualify for postseason participation.
- The Lakers opted not to convert their deals to standard NBA contracts, prioritizing veteran depth and immediate impact.
- Both players remain under team control and could have future roles, but they are not part of the playoff rotation this season.
While it’s disappointing for fans hoping to see fresh faces, the Lakers are focusing on maximizing their current core’s championship window. And who knows—Jemison and Koloko may still play important roles for the Lakers down the line.
