Arthur Kaluma absolutely went off for the Los Angeles Lakers against Dallas on Saturday, dropping a massive 34 points in their dominant 91-70 win. This wasn't just some regular Summer League showing, either; Kaluma exploded on 11-16 shooting from the field, absolutely lighting it up by hitting six of his 10 attempts from downtown. He stepped up big time after Cameron Carr was ruled out just before tip, seizing the opportunity like a pro.
Kaluma's Explosive Las Vegas Weekend
From the moment the ball tipped, Kaluma wasted no time. He scored the team's second basket with a sweet pump fake, drove hard inside, absorbed contact, and finished in the paint. He kept that momentum going through the whole first half, repeating the process, and then when the Mavericks defense presented the three-point line, he drained a pair from beyond the arc. He poured in 18 points just in the first half! Lakers coach Ty Abbott was straight up about it after the game, saying, "It’s just his confidence. And understanding of how to play without the ball in your hand." Abbott highlighted Kaluma's knack for finding windows, crashing boards, creating extra possessions, getting putbacks, tip-ins, drawing fouls, and just taking advantage of smaller defenders. In the second half, whenever Dallas tried to mount a comeback, Kaluma seemed to hit a timely three, keeping them firmly at bay. This kid was ready.A Two-Way Deal or Bust
This massive performance wasn't a fluke, either. In the Lakers' very first game in Las Vegas on Friday, Kaluma was literally perfect from the field, sinking all five of his shots for a cool 18 points. It’s no wonder Dan Woike tweeted that Kaluma "has to be one of the best in Vegas not currently on a two-way deal." And that's where the Lakers' problem comes in: they've already got all three two-way spots locked down with Chris Mañon, AK Okereke, and Peter Suder. While Mañon has had some quality games, Okereke and Suder have really struggled in Summer League. Kaluma, who was part of the Lakers ecosystem last year playing with South Bay and in Summer League, is making a compelling, undeniable case. The Lakers have to figure out how to get Arthur Kaluma on a two-way contract, and fast. With a performance like this, some other team is going to scoop him up if LA doesn't make a move. The pressure is on to secure this gifted offensive talent before it's too late.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.