Kobe Bufkin Bio
Kobe Bufkin is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. Born on September 21, 2003, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he rose to national attention as a McDonald’s All-American before spending two seasons with the Michigan Wolverines. Selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2023 NBA draft, Bufkin entered the league viewed as a high-upside guard with the ability to score, facilitate, and defend at a high level.
After parts of two seasons in Atlanta interrupted by injuries, Bufkin continues to develop his game in the G League, where he has shown the scoring touch that originally made him a lottery pick. He remains one of the most closely watched young guards in the Los Angeles Lakers’ orbit.
Early Life and Background
Kobe Bufkin was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Michael Bufkin and Kimberly Camp. He grew up in a household with deep basketball roots, as his parents had been fans of the Michigan men’s basketball program since the Fab Five era. His brothers carry the names of legendary guards Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas, and the family has long debated whether Kobe himself was named in tribute to the late Kobe Bryant.
Bufkin began playing organized basketball at Grand Rapids Christian High School, where he joined the varsity team as a freshman. By the time he turned five, he had already told family members that he wanted to play for the Michigan Wolverines football team, a sign of the athletic confidence that would later translate to the hardwood. He was also a three-time all-state honoree in Michigan.
Path to Basketball
Bufkin’s recruitment gained national traction during his high school years. A consensus four-star recruit, he committed to Michigan over a finalist group that included LSU, DePaul, Michigan State, and Ohio State, with other offers from Missouri, Northwestern, and TCU. Assistant coach Saddi Washington played a key role in keeping Bufkin in-state when he was retained on staff after Juwan Howard replaced John Beilein as head coach.
As a senior at Grand Rapids Christian, Bufkin averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in five games before a fractured left wrist ended his season early. Despite the shortened year, he had already been recognized as a McDonald’s All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic selection, becoming the first McDonald’s All-American from the state of Michigan since Deyonta Davis in 2015.
Kobe Bufkin Career
High School Career (2019–2021)
Bufkin steadily built his reputation at Grand Rapids Christian. As a sophomore, he averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game and earned Division 2 second-team all-state recognition from the Associated Press. He continued to climb, posting 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game as a junior while leading his team to a 20-2 record and earning first-team all-state honors.
Following his abbreviated senior season, Bufkin finished third in the Mr. Basketball of Michigan voting, trailing Pierre Brooks II and Foster Wonders. He signed his national letter of intent with Michigan in November 2020, ranked 63rd nationally and 15th among shooting guards in the 247Sports composite rankings.
Michigan Wolverines (2021–2023)
Bufkin enrolled at Michigan at age 17 and became part of a recruiting class ranked first in the nation by ESPN, Rivals.com, and 247Sports. As a freshman in 2021-22, he averaged 3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10.6 minutes, earning co-Big Ten freshman of the week honors after an 11-point performance against Southern Utah. He also reached double digits with 10 points against Iowa as Michigan advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
As a sophomore in 2022-23, Bufkin emerged as the team’s leading player, averaging 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while logging a team-high 34 minutes per game. He set new career highs throughout the season, including 28 points in an overtime win over Wisconsin on February 26, 2023, and posted his first career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds against Northwestern. His strong play earned him third-team All-Big Ten recognition from the media and honorable mention from the coaches, and he was named Michigan’s top player in the NIT first round with 23 points against Toledo. He then participated in the NBA draft combine at Wintrust Arena.
Atlanta Hawks (2023–2025)
The Atlanta Hawks selected Bufkin with the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. He signed a rookie-scale contract on July 3, 2023, and spent the summer developing as a playmaker during NBA Summer League action, highlighted by a game-winning shot with 12.6 seconds remaining in a 99-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He appeared in two of Atlanta’s first five regular-season games before fracturing his thumb on November 3.
After his thumb healed, Bufkin was assigned to the College Park Skyhawks, where he posted 34, 29, 33, and 27 points in his first four games and scored 43 points in a single game on January 29, 2024. When Trae Young underwent finger surgery in late February 2024, Bufkin returned to the main rotation and posted a career-high 12 points on February 29 against Brooklyn. A left big toe sprain cost him 14 games, but he returned to action on April 1 and made an impression with a defensive assignment against Kyrie Irving. In 2024-25, Bufkin played in 10 games for Atlanta, averaging 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists before season-ending right shoulder surgery was announced on December 18, 2024. On September 16, 2025, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for cash considerations and was waived on October 19, 2025.
South Bay Lakers (2025–Present)
On November 13, 2025, Bufkin was traded from the Motor City Cruise to the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League for a 2027 first-round G League draft pick. He debuted for South Bay on November 16, scoring 16 points with 7 rebounds in a 113-111 win over the Rip City Remix that kept the team unbeaten at 3-0. In his first two games with South Bay, he averaged 22.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steal across 28.7 minutes of play.
Bufkin briefly signed a 10-day hardship deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on November 23, 2025, but did not appear in any games and returned to South Bay after the deal expired.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bufkin is best known for his scoring instincts and his size at the guard position, standing 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. He has shown the ability to attack closeouts, finish through contact, and make accurate reads as a secondary playmaker. Defensively, his length and lateral quickness have translated into strong on-ball assignments, including notable moments guarding All-Star guards such as Kyrie Irving. Continued development of his strength and decision-making remain the central areas of his game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Bufkin hit a game-winning shot in the 2023 NBA Summer League against the Philadelphia 76ers, dropped 43 points for the College Park Skyhawks on January 29, 2024, and posted a career-high 28 points in an overtime win over Wisconsin as a sophomore at Michigan. He also became Michigan’s first McDonald’s All-American since 2002 alongside teammates Moussa Diabaté and Caleb Houstan.
Kobe Bufkin Career Wins
Kobe Bufkin’s competitive record features a mix of team championships, conference recognition, and individual scoring milestones. While he has not yet won a major individual NBA award, his consistent scoring outputs at every level underscore his impact.
NCAA Highlights
At Michigan, Bufkin helped lead the Wolverines to a Sweet Sixteen appearance as a freshman and earned third-team All-Big Ten recognition as a sophomore. He was also a McDonald’s All-American in 2021 and a Jordan Brand Classic selection, making him one of the most decorated recruits in the history of the Michigan basketball program.
Other Performances
During his time with the College Park Skyhawks in 2023-24, Bufkin averaged 23.6 points, 5.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 14 appearances, with four performances of 30 points or more. He also averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 steal in the 2025 NBA Summer League.
Kobe Bufkin Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Kobe Bufkin is the son of Michael Bufkin and Kimberly Camp, longtime Michigan basketball fans. His brothers carry the names of NBA legends Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas, and the family continues to discuss whether Kobe was in fact named in honor of the late Kobe Bryant. The family has remained a steady source of support throughout his basketball journey from Grand Rapids to the professional ranks.
Personal Life
Bufkin has largely kept his personal life private. He has been focused on his professional career since being drafted in 2023, and details about relationships or family expansion have not been publicly disclosed.
2025 Season Performance
Bufkin’s 2025 calendar year has been defined by movement and a return to form. After season-ending right shoulder surgery in December 2024, he returned to action in the 2025 NBA Summer League, averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 steal across 26.5 minutes per game. That production preceded his late-summer trade from the Atlanta Hawks to the Brooklyn Nets and a subsequent waiver before the start of the regular season.
Once he landed with the South Bay Lakers, Bufkin picked up where he left off, averaging 22.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steal in his first two appearances and helping the team open the season 3-0. A brief 10-day hardship deal with the Memphis Grizzlies followed, but he returned to South Bay without having appeared in an NBA game. His early season form suggests a strong chance of another NBA call-up before the end of the calendar year.