Rob Pelinka
Getty
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka during a press conference in June 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers may have uncovered another under-the-radar contributor in the G League, but there is growing concern that he may not remain within the organization for long.
Kobe Bufkin has steadily elevated his profile this season, emerging as one of the most impactful guards in the G League and forcing NBA teams to take notice.
The South Bay Lakers standout has transformed a previously disrupted professional start into a sustained stretch of high-level production, combining scoring, playmaking, and defensive engagement on a nightly basis.
That surge has come with an underlying risk for Los Angeles. Bufkin is currently on a standard G League contract, meaning he is not contractually tied to the Lakers. His recent performances have firmly placed him on the radar of NBA front offices, and any team is free to sign him outright without compensation.
The Lakers have been burned by this scenario before. In 2024, Scotty Pippen Jr. was never secured to a two-way or standard NBA deal, allowing the Memphis Grizzlies to step in and sign a player who went on to become a reliable NBA contributor.
Around the league, teams continue to exploit similar situations. On Saturday, the Houston Rockets signed Tristen Newton, one of the G League’s leading scorers, to a two-way contract after his breakout run with the Iowa Wolves, the affiliate team of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Newton was also on a standard G League deal, and Houston moved quickly. The same opportunity exists with Bufkin.
Lakers Risk Losing Control of Breakout Guard
Bufkin reinforced his rising stock on Saturday night with another standout showing in a dramatic South Bay overtime win over the Memphis Hustle. He finished with a joint team-high 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including three made three-pointers, along with five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks.
He was decisive when the game was on the line. With South Bay protecting a narrow 123–121 lead late in overtime, Bufkin recorded a key block, recovered the ball, and converted an and-one in transition to seal the victory.
He accounted for five of South Bay’s seven points in the extra period and anchored the defense, limiting Memphis to just three overtime points.
In the same contest, Lakers two-way forward Drew Timme recorded his third double-double of the season with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, matching the highest assist total by a South Bay player in a single game this season.
Bufkin’s performance followed a 41-point outburst against the Oklahoma City Blue just one week earlier, his second 40-plus point game of the season. While his scoring has drawn headlines, his defensive activity has been just as notable, with five blocks across his last two games. The 6-foot-4 guard is impacting winning on both ends of the floor.
NBA Opportunity Window Continues to Open
Drafted 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2023 NBA Draft, Bufkin’s early NBA trajectory was slowed by injuries and inconsistent opportunities. The G League has provided him the platform to regain rhythm and confidence, and he has capitalized fully.
Through 11 G League games this season, Bufkin is averaging 26.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, one steal, and nearly one block per game while shooting an efficient 41.9 percent from three-point range.
The 22-year-old also delivered back-to-back 23-point performances at the G League Winter Showcase, an event heavily attended by NBA scouts searching for immediate depth solutions.
While scoring alone does not always translate to NBA success, teams prioritize versatility, defensive effort, and adaptability. Bufkin is checking those boxes, pairing offensive production with hustle and two-way reliability.
NBA teams can sign G League players to two-way contracts, and beginning January 5, 10-day contracts also become available outside of hardship exceptions.
Bufkin was briefly called up by Memphis in late November on a hardship exception, a move that highlights both his momentum and the league’s growing reliance on the G League as a legitimate talent pipeline.
With standard and two-way contracts becoming fully guaranteed on January 7, roster movement is expected in the coming days. Bufkin appears to be one of the players most likely to benefit.
The Lakers now face a narrowing window to act, either securing his services or risking another NBA team stepping in first.