Guard Kobe Bufkin has agreed to a training-camp deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and will compete for the team’s final roster spot, a club source confirmed on July 25. The Athletic’s Will Guillory reported the agreement after Michael Scotto first broke the news.
Bufkin, 22, entered the NBA as a lottery selection in the 2023 draft. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Michigan product spent his first two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, appearing in 27 games, before the Los Angeles Lakers acquired him last year.
Los Angeles assigned Bufkin to its G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, where he showed progress but did not secure a regular-season role. The Lakers waived him ahead of the 2026 playoffs, clearing the way for his spot on New Orleans’ Summer League roster.
During the Las Vegas showcase, Bufkin posted a standout performance on July 9, recording 30 points and six rebounds while shooting 8-for-16 from the field and 5-for-9 from three-point range against the Minnesota Timberwolves. That outing helped persuade the Pelicans to extend a longer look this fall.
Bufkin has credited Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka for giving him an opportunity to revive his career and now aims to solidify an NBA role by refining his scoring efficiency and embracing defensive assignments.
Source: Lakers Nation
