| 19.12.2005
France international Ronny Turiaf has been given the go ahead by doctors to return to basketball five months after undergoing open-heart surgery.
The 20-year-old Martinique-born center, who was drafted in 37th position by the Lakers in June, was diagnosed one month later with a serious heart failure.
He was later operated on and it was thought his chances of ever being able to play again were very slim.
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Turiaf wants to join the French at the FIBA World Championship in Japan
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| However, Turiaf, who has nine caps for France and won the Under-21 European title with Les Bleus in 2001 along with Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Mickael Pietrus, has completed a remarkable recovery and was given the go-ahead to return to training by his doctors.
"This is tremendous news for me. I feel like I have been given a second chance at life," Turiaf told L'Equipe.
"The next few weeks are going to be very tough for me and I will have to work hard on my concentration and my physical conditioning in order to regain the level of fitness I had before the operation.
"After what I have experienced, nothing scares me anymore."
Turiaf's recovery also stunned the Lakers management, who have supported the youngster throughout his ordeal, but were not expecting him to be in any condition to play before next summer.
"Turiaf should definitely play for Los Angeles this season," said Phil Jackson, the Lakers' coach.
"I visited Ronny the day after his operation and he was weak and very thin," added general manager Mitch Kupchak.
"We were really wondering whether he would be capable of playing basketball again.
"That's why we did not include him in our plans for the season. We were not expecting him to be back before next summer.
"But his spectacular recovery over the last few weeks has forced us to reconsider things."
Turiaf, meanwhile, admitted he was also surprised, but now his sights are set firmly on the future.
"Wearing the Lakers shirt along with Kobe Bryant and playing under Phil Jackson is a dream I could not even thing about five months ago," he added.
"And I am not going to stop there. I have one more wish to fulfil and that's to play for France at the 2006 World Championships, with my mates."
Turiaf's premature recovery will be a huge boost for the French as they prepare for next year’s tournament in Japan. | 
