By Sulaiman Kauki
KAMPALA — Ugandan basketball international Arthur Kaluma has taken a major step in his professional career after signing a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, bringing him closer to making a regular appearance in the NBA.
Kaluma secured the opportunity following an outstanding performance in the NBA Summer League, where he averaged 19 points per game and impressed with his shooting accuracy, converting 50 percent of his three-point attempts.
The 26-year-old spent the previous season with the South Bay Lakers, the NBA franchise’s G League affiliate, where he developed into a reliable perimeter defender and consistent outside shooter.
His strong performances earned him a place on the Lakers’ Summer League roster, where he played a key role in helping the team reach the semi-finals before they were knocked out by eventual champions Golden State Warriors.
Under the terms of the two-way agreement, Kaluma will divide his time between the Los Angeles Lakers and the South Bay Lakers during the upcoming season. NBA regulations allow players on two-way contracts to feature in up to 50 regular-season games with the parent club while continuing their development in the G League.
Reports indicate that the contract is valued at approximately US$636,435 (about Shs2.3 billion), making it one of the biggest achievements of Kaluma’s basketball career.
Kaluma, who represented Uganda at the 2021 FIBA AfroBasket Championship, has steadily progressed through the ranks and is now poised to become one of the country’s few players to feature in the NBA.
The signing is expected to inspire young basketball players in Uganda as Kaluma continues his pursuit of a permanent place on one of the league’s most successful franchises.