Bufkin (personal) is not listed on the injury report ahead of Monday's game against the Nuggets.
Bufkin most recently played for the South Bay Lakers of the G League, where he missed Friday's game against the Santa Cruz Warriors due to personal reasons. He has since signed a 10-day hardship deal to join the Grizzlies, where he appears set to make his team debut Monday. Although he doesn't figure to see a major role, Bufkin could see some time due to Memphis' injuries at the guard spots.
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Grizzlies' Kobe Bufkin: Inks deal with Memphis
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Memphis plans to sign Bufkin (personal) to a 10-day hardship exception Sunday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Bufkin had been playing with the South Bay Lakers of the G League to open the season, though he missed Friday's game due to personal reasons. The guard now joins a Memphis backcourt hit hard by injuries, with Ja Morant (calf), Ty Jerome (calf), Scotty Pippen (toe) and Javon Small (toe) all sidelined.
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Kobe Bufkin: Cut loose by Brooklyn
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Bufkin is being waived by the Nets, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Bufkin, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, struggled to stay healthy and establish a consistent role with the Hawks before being traded to the Nets in September. Facing a roster crunch, Brooklyn decided to move on from the young guard amid a crowded backcourt that includes returning scorer Cam Thomas and rookies Egor Demin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Sitting out summer finale
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Bufkin won't play in Sunday's Las Vegas Summer League game against the Celtics due to rest, Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports.
Though he'll be idle for the Hawks' summer finale, Bufkin was a standout performer across his four appearances in Las Vegas, averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 steals across 26.5 minutes per game. The Michigan product will look to earn a regular spot in the Atlanta rotation this season after missing significant time in 2024-25 after he underwent right shoulder surgery in early January.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Drops 25 points in SL win
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Bufkin accumulated 25 points (8-15 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 5-6 FT), six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block across 27 minutes in Monday's 111-108 Summer League overtime win over the Rockets.
Bufkin's nine turnovers Monday were less than ideal, but his efficient 25-point outing helped offset those hiccups. It's been an up-and-down Summer League for the young guard, who poured in 29 points Friday against the Heat before struggling with a 3-for-17 shooting night and 10 points Sunday versus the Suns. Bufkin was limited to only 10 regular-season appearances in 2024-25 due to a lingering shoulder issue that required surgery, averaging 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 38.3 percent from the floor.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Full-go for Summer League
Rotowire
Bufkin, who underwent season-ending surgery Jan. 7 to address right shoulder instability, has been fully cleared for Summer League, Grant Afseth of RG.org reports.
Bufkin missed the final three months of the 2024-25 season. His rookie season was sabotaged by injuries as well, with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft having just 27 regular-season appearances under his belt with the Hawks. He's likely to be a featured player for the Hawks during the Summer League, although Afseth reports that he's expected to appear in only a few games before the team shuts him down. Bufkin has a real shot at carving out a rotation role this year.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Out for remainder of season
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Bufkin will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season, as he's undergoing surgery to address his right shoulder instability, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
This is a tough blow for the second-year guard, but he's expected to make a full recovery prior to the 2025-26 season. Bufkin struggled to see consistent run for the Hawks across 10 regular-season appearances, averaging 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 12.4 minutes.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Limited role continues Monday
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Bufkin chipped in 10 points (4-4 FG, 2-3 FT), two rebounds and one assist over 12 minutes during Monday's 124-112 win over the Pelicans.
Bufkin scored double-digit points for the first time this season, continuing his modest start to the campaign. Although he possesses an intriguing skill set, Bufkin has yet to carve out a sizeable role. His long-term prospects remain upbeat; however, it appears his only chance of playing consistent minutes this season will be if injuries befall those ahead of him in the rotation.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Serves as backup PG in debut
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Bufkin (shoulder) tallied five points (1-7 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and one rebound across 12 minutes off the bench in Monday's 109-108 win over the Kings.
The second-year player had missed the Hawks' first 14 games of the season while recovering from a right shoulder subluxation suffered late in the preseason before he was cleared to make his debut Monday. He immediately supplanted Keaton Wallace in the rotation and served as the backup to Trae Young, who covered the other 36 minutes at point guard. Though Bufkin can play off the ball, the Hawks are now back to full strength on the wing after Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) returned to action Monday following an extended absence of his own, so Bufkin may not see his minutes pick up unless Young misses time.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Available Monday
Rotowire
Bufkin (shoulder) isn't listed on the injury report for Monday's game against the Kings, Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports.
Bufkin is cleared to make his season debut after missing the first month due to a dislocated right shoulder. The Hawks will be surprisingly healthy Monday, so it's unclear if Bufkin will actually see any playing time.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Remains out Sunday
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Bufkin (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Portland, Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Bufkin has yet to make his season debut for the Hawks while working his way back from a dislocated right shoulder he sustained during the preseason. The 21-year-old's next chance to suit up will come in the second leg of a back-to-back set Monday against the Kings.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Unlikely to play Sunday
Rotowire
Bufkin (shoulder) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers.
Bufkin continues to work his way back from a dislocated right shoulder that he suffered during the preseason in October. He spent the past week in the G League to get some practice time, and while he was recalled by the Hawks on Friday, he doesn't appear ready to make his 2024-25 regular-season debut Sunday. Bufkin's next chance to play will be Monday against the Kings.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Recalled Friday
Rotowire
Bufkin (shoulder) was recalled from the G League's College Park Skyhawks on Friday.
Bufkin has yet to make his season debut due to a dislocated right shoulder, though he was assigned to the G League to get some practice time with the squad. The 21-year-old is slated for a re-evaluation early next week, and he seems to be ramping up for a return to game action.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Practicing with G League
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Bufkin (shoulder) was assigned to the G League's College Park Skyhawks on Friday.
Per Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bufkin will get a full practice in with the G League squad while he continues his rehab. The second-year guard has yet to make his season debut due to a shoulder injury but is slated to be re-evaluated early next week.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Will be re-evaluated in one week
Rotowire
Bufkin (shoulder) is progressing through his rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.
Bufkin has yet to appear in a game this season due to his shoulder injury, but his recovery process seems to have gone well enough for him to potentially return soon. The Hawks have a myriad of injuries they are dealing with at the moment, so potentially getting Bufkin back would be massive for their guard rotation.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Team option exercised
Rotowire
Bufkin's (shoulder) third-year option for 2025-26 was picked up by Atlanta on Wednesday
Bufkin's ongoing recovery from a shoulder subluxation has a multi-week timeline, and durability continues to be an issue for the young guard, who also spent time the G League last season but has logged just 17 NBA appearances. Nonetheless, his development is a priority for the Hawks.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Out with shoulder subluxation
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Bufkin (shoulder) won't play during Friday's game versus the Hornets.
Atlanta announced Thursday that Bufkin sustained a right shoulder subluxation during practice last Saturday. While the team is still determining treatment options before offering up a firm timeline for his return, the second-year guard could be headed for a multi-week absence.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Running with first unit
Rotowire
Bufkin is starting Thursday's preseason game against the Thunder, Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports.
Bufkin will get an opportunity to start at point guard while Trae Young rests Thursday evening. Bufkin played a sizable role in Wednesday's matchup, tallying 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 24 minutes off the bench.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Out for remainder of Summer League
Rotowire
The Hawks announced Thursday that Bufkin suffered a right shoulder subluxation during Tuesday's practice and will not play in the Las Vegas Summer League.
While Bufkin's shoulder injury will keep him out of the Summer League, he is expected to make a full recovery ahead of training camp. The second-year guard averaged 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.5 minutes across 17 regular-season appearances in 2023-24.
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Hawks' Kobe Bufkin: Gets rotation spot in return
Rotowire
Bufkin (toe) tallied three points (1-4 FG, 1-3 3Pt), three assists, two rebounds and one block across 17 minutes off the bench in Monday's 113-101 win over the Bulls.
Suiting up for the first time since March 2 after recovering from a sprained left big toe, Bufkin supplanted Trent Forrest in the rotation as the Hawks' backup point guard and also saw some playing time in an off-ball role alongside Dejounte Murray. The rookie first-round pick could have the ability to pick up more minutes if the Hawks elect to deprioritize two-way player Vit Krejci on the wing, but if he sticks in his current backup role, Bufkin's fantasy upside will be fairly limited.
