Los Angeles brings back former first-round pick Kobe Bufkin on two-year deal
los-angeles-brings-back-former-first-round-pick-kobe-bufkin-on-two-year-deal
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers are signing guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year contract that includes a team option for the 2026-27 season, according to sources cited by ESPN on Saturday.
The agreement fills the Lakers’ 15th roster spot and returns Bufkin, 22, to the NBA club after a standout run with the organization’s South Bay affiliate in the G League. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 24.7 points on 49.6% shooting, including 43.1% from three-point range, along with 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals for South Bay.
Bufkin previously signed a 10-day contract with Los Angeles in January, appearing in four games and averaging 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11.3 minutes. He also spent a 10-day stint with the Memphis Grizzlies in November.
Selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2023 NBA draft, Bufkin saw action in 27 games over two seasons with Atlanta before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets for cash considerations in September. Brooklyn waived him in October.
Source: ESPN
