Ugandan basketball star Arthur Kaluma has made history after signing an NBA contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the first Ugandan to achieve the milestone.
The 24-year-old forward has joined the Lakers on a two-way contract following an impressive run with the team’s G League side during the 2025–26 season.
Kaluma featured in 40 regular season and Tip-Off Tournament games, averaging 13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 24.4 minutes per game while shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range.
The talented forward recorded 29 double-digit scoring performances during the G League campaign, including seven games where he scored 20 or more points.
His performances helped the Lakers’ G League team secure the Western Conference’s top seed with a 26-10 record before advancing to the Western Conference Finals.
Kaluma also impressed during the NBA Summer League, averaging 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across seven games while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three-point range.
In Las Vegas, he led the Lakers in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game and helping the team achieve a 4-0 record in pool play before reaching the tournament semifinals.
Kaluma has dual citizenship in Uganda and the United States and has represented Uganda’s national basketball team in international competitions.
Before turning professional, he played college basketball at Texas, Kansas State, and Creighton, featuring in 134 games across four seasons, including 131 starts.
His NBA contract marks a historic achievement for Ugandan basketball and opens a new chapter for the country’s athletes on the global stage.
HAVE A NIGHT, ARTHUR KALUMA!
34 PTS (11-16 FGM)
5 REB
6 3PMThe @Lakers pick up the win in @NBASummerLeague play 👏 pic.twitter.com/2rxcKFxVlJ
— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2026
