NBA Draft Scouting Report: Creighton’s Arthur Kaluma
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Arthur Kaluma
Forward | Creighton
Height: 6’7” | Weight: 220 lbs
2024 Draft Age: 22.30
Steven Branscombe / USA TODAY Sports
Prospect Profile
While most of the young prospects every year get most of the attention, there’s always several older draftees that end up making a significant impact at the NBA level. Kaluma could be just that in the 2024 NBA Draft, as he’s an older prospect even for a college junior.
With that in mind he’s a good athlete with a ton of offensive upside. He’s polished on that end of the floor and would slot nicely on a team that’s ready to compete. That’s not to say he wouldn’t be a good prospect on a rebuilding team, but Kaluma projects to be a player that can impact the game from day one. He's strong and smooth with an NBA-ready frame.
On the defensive end, he’s still got a lot of work to do. In fact, that’s probably the one thing outside of his age that’s holding him back from being a lottery pick. He’s had problems defending perimeter oriented players, especially in the pick-and-roll. His feet do move well on that end of the floor and he's shown flashes of being a productive defender, but it hasn't been consistently enough.
Additionally, Kaluma has improved his jump shot but still has a long way to go. His base when shooting from beyond the arc is a bit unorthodox, with his right foot being well in front of his left which causes his body to turn away from being square with the basket. His shot release is also too slow, which is why he doesn't get many wide open triples. Between the jumper and defense, there’s quite a bit of variability in where he could be selected this summer.
Kaluma has long arms and is an aggressive downhill attacker. He boats a 7-foot wingspan and is well documented using that to his advantage. While his shot develops, he’s got plenty of other ways to generate points. Outside of that, he’s a good positional rebounder that will only have even more of a chance to shine in the upcoming season.
After a significant knee injury two seasons ago, Kamala has proven he’s still got what it takes to impact the game at the NBA level. If he has a good pre-draft process, he’ll have a chance at being taken in the first round.
His experience goes beyond the college game, as he also has spent time playing in high level games for the Uganda National team in international play. Later in the first round, a team ready to compete could get a real contributor in Kaluma.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Early Second-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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