Arthur Kaluma turned a strong Summer League into an NBA opportunity, earning a two-way contract with the Lakers after an impressive stretch in Las Vegas.
Arthur Kaluma's standout performance during the NBA Summer League has officially earned him a spot in the Los Angeles Lakers organization for the 2026-27 season.
According to ESPN, Kaluma is signing a two-way contract with the Lakers after spending the 2025-26 season in the team's G League program. The deal comes after the forward showcased his versatility and scoring ability throughout Summer League, proving he belonged on an NBA roster.
Kaluma was signed to the team following the NBA draft on an Exhibit 10 contract.
His steady improvement throughout the past year carried over into Summer League, where he became one of L.A.'s most productive players.
Summer League Performance Earns NBA Opportunity
Kaluma appeared in all seven Summer League games for the Lakers and averaged 17.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 56% from the field and 38% from 3.
His efficient scoring helped him emerge as one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
His best performance came in a July 11 victory over the Dallas Mavericks when he erupted for 34 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.
He also recorded 18 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance against Oklahoma City and finished with 16 points against San Antonio. Even in L.A.'s Summer League championship loss to Golden State, Kaluma contributed 12 points and four rebounds off the bench.
The consistency throughout the seven-game slate helped solidify his case for a roster spot, with Kaluma averaging nearly 19 points per game during the Las Vegas portion of Summer League while shooting over 60% from the field.
A Well-Traveled College Career
Kaluma enters the NBA after a unique collegiate path that took him to three major programs.
He began his career at Creighton, where he was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team and later earned All-Big East Tournament honors. After two seasons with the Bluejays, he transferred to Kansas State and averaged a career-high 14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds while competing in the Big 12.
Jan 4, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Arthur Kaluma (6) stretches for the rebound against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Reed Arena. The Aggies defeated the Longhorns 80-60. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn ImagesHis final collegiate season came at Texas, where he averaged 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds while posting career bests in field-goal percentage (46.2%) and free-throw percentage (78.4%). Across 134 college games, Kaluma averaged 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
The Lakers have placed an emphasis on developing young talent through South Bay, and Kaluma is another example of that approach paying off. Instead of searching elsewhere for an opportunity, he remained in the organization, continued to improve and capitalized when given meaningful minutes during Summer League.
If his Summer League production is any indication, he has positioned himself to compete for NBA minutes sooner rather than later.
