Arthur Kaluma’s push for NBA minutes with the Los Angeles Lakers has encountered an early setback after a lower-body injury ruled him out of their preseason opener against the Sacramento Kings.
The Uganda international watched from the sidelines as the Lakers opened their exhibition campaign with a 127-103 victory at Golden 1 Center on Monday.
Kaluma is reported as day-to-day, with coach JJ Redick indicating that the injuries affecting him and several teammates were not serious. His availability for the next game against the Golden State Warriors remains uncertain.
The Lakers visit Golden State at Chase Center on Tuesday evening in the United States, with tip-off scheduled for 5am on Wednesday, October 7, in Uganda.
For Kaluma, getting back onto the court will provide an opportunity to build on a productive summer that earned him a two-way contract with one of basketball’s most prominent franchises.
A summer that changed his position
The Lakers announced Kaluma’s two-way deal on July 22 following impressive performances in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer Leagues.
Across 7 appearances, the 24-year-old averaged 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23 minutes per game.
He shot 51.6 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three-point range, offering evidence of the scoring efficiency and perimeter shooting that could strengthen his NBA prospects.
His numbers were even stronger in Las Vegas, where he averaged a team-leading 18.6 points across 5 games as the Lakers went unbeaten in pool play before reaching the semifinals.
The performances followed a season in the Lakers’ development system. Kaluma averaged 13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 40 regular-season and Tip-off Tournament appearances for South Bay in 2025/26.
He also shot 37.8 percent from three-point range as South Bay reached the G League Western Conference Finals.
That progression gives his latest opportunity a stronger foundation. Kaluma returns to camp with experience of the organisation and a summer campaign that persuaded the Lakers to invest further in his development.
Redick sees a role
Redick has already identified the qualities he wants Kaluma to bring to the Lakers’ wing group.
“Particularly the first two days, I thought both [Arthur Kaluma and AK Okereke] were a really physical part of that wing group,” Redick said after Saturday’s practice, according to Silver Screen and Roll.
The Lakers coach views Kaluma and fellow two-way forward AK Okereke as wings who can contribute through three-point shooting and defence.
He has also placed their development within a longer-term effort to turn the Lakers’ younger players into dependable members of the NBA rotation over the next 12 to 24 months.
That assessment helps define Kaluma’s challenge once he returns.
His Summer League scoring attracted attention, but earning regular opportunities will also require reliable defensive positioning, physical play and an ability to contribute without dominating possession.
For a developing forward, preseason offers valuable opportunities to demonstrate those habits against NBA opposition while the coaching staff assesses combinations and roles.
What the contract means
Kaluma’s two-way contract provides a route between the NBA team and its G League affiliate, South Bay Lakers.
Under NBA rules, teams can carry up to 3 two-way players, each eligible to be active for as many as 50 regular-season games with the NBA side.
The arrangement gives Kaluma access to NBA opportunities while allowing him to continue developing through G League competition. It does not guarantee playing time or a regular place in Redick’s rotation.
His immediate task is to recover and make himself available during the remaining exhibition games.
After Golden State, the Lakers face Sacramento again on October 8, followed by another Warriors meeting on October 13 and a final preseason game against Denver on October 16.
They open their regular-season campaign against Golden State on October 21.
A familiar talent for Uganda
Kaluma’s progress carries particular interest for Ugandan basketball followers who witnessed his arrival with the Silverbacks before his professional career began.
He announced himself internationally in July 2021, scoring a game-high 20 points and collecting 5 rebounds on debut as Uganda defeated Morocco 77-65.
The victory secured the Silverbacks’ third consecutive AfroBasket appearance and established the then 19-year-old as an important addition to the national team.
His college career subsequently took him through Creighton, Kansas State and Texas.
During his final college season at Texas in 2024/25, he averaged 12.3 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds, recording 8 double-doubles in 33 appearances.
Kaluma now faces another step in that journey. His contract and summer performances have opened the door, while Redick’s assessment offers a clear indication of the role he could grow into.
Once fit, the challenge will be to turn those encouraging signs into performances that earn him opportunities during the NBA regular season.