South Bay Lakers Set to Add Guard Kobe Bufkin from G League Pool
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The South Bay Lakers plan to bring in guard Kobe Bufkin after he enters the NBA G League player pool, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. Details on whether South Bay will claim Bufkin off waivers or acquire his rights via trade after another team makes a claim remain unclear, but either scenario would place the 22-year-old with Los Angeles’ G League affiliate.
Bufkin was selected 15th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Injuries limited him to 27 appearances over his first two seasons, including a fractured left thumb and a sprained toe as a rookie, followed by season-ending shoulder surgery in December 2024. During those 27 games, the 6’4″ guard averaged 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.9 minutes, shooting .374 from the field, .220 from three and .654 at the free-throw line.
Atlanta traded Bufkin to the Brooklyn Nets during the 2025 offseason. Brooklyn waived him last month while trimming its roster to the regular-season limit of 15 players.
Before turning pro, Bufkin showed scoring and playmaking promise in his final season at Michigan. He also excelled in the G League in 2023-24, putting up 23.6 points and 5.9 assists in 32.0 minutes across 14 games for the College Park Skyhawks. With only two years of NBA service, he remains eligible to sign a two-way contract if an NBA club offers another opportunity.
Source: Hoops Rumors
