Los Angeles Lakers are under threat to lose Kobe Bufkin after his G League emergence, Bufkin isn't signed to any guaranteed deals with the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers G League standout Kobe Bufkin has turned heads this season with high-level scoring, playmaking and defensive activity for the South Bay Lakers, but his current standard G League contract leaves his future with the organization uncertain.
Kobe Bufkin
Kobe Bufkin
Position: PG, SG
Age: 22
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 88 kg
Birth place: Michigan, United States of America
Because he isn’t tied to an NBA deal, any NBA team can sign him without compensation to the Lakers, creating a risk that Los Angeles could lose a rising guard.
Bufkin recently delivered standout performances, including a 26-point game with key plays down the stretch.
Drafted 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2023, injuries and inconsistent NBA chances slowed his early professional career before he found rhythm in the G League.
Through 11 games this season, he’s averaging 26.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting nearly 42% from three, numbers that have put him squarely on front offices’ radars.
Bufkin also earned a brief call-up to the Memphis Grizzlies on a hardship exception last November, highlighting league-wide interest.
With standard and two-way NBA deals becoming fully guaranteed on January 7, the Lakers face a narrowing window to secure Bufkin before another team pounces.
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