Kobe Bufkin shows promise in Summer League, but Hawks scouts remain concerned
The Hornets took down the Kings to claim the NBA 2K26 summer league championship this past Sunday. While Charlotte celebrated, another young player was trying to make his mark elsewhere.
Kobe Bufkin, just 21 years old, has been fighting to prove himself with the Atlanta Hawks.
The young guard put up some impressive numbers in the summer competition, including multiple 25+ point performances that showcased his potential as a backup point guard.
But behind the scenes, there’s some worry.
According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, several Hawks scouts are “a little worried” about Bufkin’s development. Two years into his NBA journey, Atlanta is trying to stay positive, but concerns are growing.
Bufkin’s summer league stats tell one story:
• 19.5 points per game
• 5.3 rebounds
• 4.3 assists
• 1.0 steals
• 0.8 blocks
The Hawks selected Bufkin with the 15th pick in the 2023 NBA draft after his standout career at Michigan. But injuries have derailed his early professional career.
He’s played in just 27 games over two seasons.
As a rookie, Bufkin appeared in only 17 games. Last year was even worse – just 10 games before a nagging shoulder injury eventually required surgery. He spent the second half of the season in rehab before returning for summer league action.
Despite heading into his third season, Bufkin barely has a quarter-season of NBA experience under his belt. That’s why this summer league was so crucial for his development.
He certainly showed flashes of brilliance. In the Hawks’ summer league opener, Bufkin exploded for 29 points while adding 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks as Atlanta completed a fourth-quarter comeback against Miami.
But impressive summer stats haven’t completely eased concerns within the organization.
“They’re a little worried,” one Hawks scout told Smith. The team has added several pieces this offseason in hopes of competing now – a timeline that doesn’t necessarily give Bufkin the development runway he needs.
His biggest weakness? Shooting from distance.
While it’s a small sample size, Bufkin has shot a dismal 22% from beyond the arc in his limited NBA action. That kind of shooting percentage simply won’t cut it for a guard in today’s league.
What’s frustrating for the Hawks is that Bufkin showed much better shooting touch in college, hitting 35.5% of his three-pointers in his final season at Michigan.
If the young guard can’t find his shooting stroke and stay healthy, he might find himself buried deep on the Hawks’ depth chart when the 2025-26 season tips off.
For a former first-round pick entering his third season, the pressure is mounting.
