Quentin Grimes Praises Arthur Kaluma After 34-Point Outing in Lakers Summer League
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The Los Angeles Lakers’ revamped roster is already drawing attention in Summer League, with veteran guard Quentin Grimes singling out two-way forward Arthur Kaluma for his standout performance in Las Vegas.
Kaluma, an undrafted free agent from the 2025 NBA Draft class, scored 34 points in a July 6 game at Chase Center in San Francisco, solidifying the form that earned him a two-way contract after a productive season with the South Bay Lakers. Grimes watched the game from courtside and later detailed his impressions during an appearance on 710 AM ESPN L.A. with Mason & Ireland.
“You can tell guys who have a different swagger, different attention to detail during the game and a little bit more pop and aggressiveness,” Grimes said. “Every time he shot it, we thought it was going in. He just plays with a different confidence and swagger, so he’s definitely an NBA player for sure, 100 percent.”
The Lakers added Grimes, Walker Kessler and Sandro Mamukelashvili this offseason to complement stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. While the roles of two-way players remain uncertain on a team with championship aspirations, Kaluma and fellow two-way signee Chris Mañon impressed the organization by dominating on both ends during Summer League.
Grimes, one of the team’s highest-paid players, believes Kaluma can contribute at the NBA level sooner rather than later. “He definitely looks ready,” Grimes noted.
As training camp approaches, Grimes is also preparing for a new role as a primary defender alongside Doncic and Reaves and a secondary on-ball creator. “I know I’ll have the ball in my hands a lot coming off pick-and-rolls, making plays,” he said. “My last two seasons in Dallas and Philly showed my whole package offensively, and I’ve been working with player-development staff to be ready.”
Los Angeles begins preseason preparations in the fall, with Kaluma aiming to translate his Summer League momentum into regular-season minutes.
Source: LakersNation.com
