Memphis signs South Bay Lakers guard Kobe Bufkin to 10-day hardship contract
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The Memphis Grizzlies have reached a 10-day hardship agreement with guard Kobe Bufkin, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on November 23, 2025.
Bufkin, the No. 15 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is being called up from the Los Angeles Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. The Grizzlies obtained the hardship exception after injuries depleted their backcourt, leaving Ja Morant (calf strain) and Ty Jerome (calf injury) unavailable.
The 6-foot-4 guard made an immediate impression in South Bay, averaging 22.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 50 percent from three over his first two G League games.
Bufkin began his career with the Atlanta Hawks but struggled to secure a steady role during two seasons. The Hawks traded him to the Brooklyn Nets last offseason; Brooklyn waived him at the end of training camp, leading to his stint with South Bay.
Memphis offers a clearer path to minutes than Los Angeles, where head coach JJ Redick currently has a crowded guard rotation featuring Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Marcus Smart, Nick Smith Jr. and Bronny James. If Bufkin’s 10-day term in Tennessee expires without an extended deal, he could return to South Bay.
Los Angeles had evaluated Bufkin in the lead-up to the 2023 draft but ultimately selected Jalen Hood-Schifino after Atlanta chose Bufkin at No. 15.
Source: LakersNation.com
