Lakers Ink Promising Guard Kobe Bufkin to Multi-Year Deal, Sources Say.
The Los Angeles Lakers have announced a two-year deal with 25-year-old guard Kobe Bufkin, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The agreement includes a team option for the 2026-2027 season. This move is seen as a strategic recruitment to bolster the Lakers' backcourt depth, particularly in light of injuries to Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.
Bufkin has been making waves in the NBA G-League with his impressive performances, earning a spot on the Los Angeles South Bay roster. In those games, he averaged 24.7 points, shot 49.6% from the field, and dished out 3.6 assists per contest. His development has also caught the attention of head coach JJ Redick, who credits Zach Guthrie's coaching with Bufkin's improvement.
Bufkin joins the Lakers after stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets. He was drafted by Atlanta in the 2023 NBA Draft but played only two seasons before being traded for cash considerations and eventually waived.
This move comes at a time when the Lakers are seeking to solidify their guard play, particularly as backup point guard. With Bufkin on board, they can alleviate some of the pressure on star backcourt players like Reaves and Doncic. As Redick noted, having a consistent player who can earn trust for the postseason is crucial.
While details surrounding Bufkin's contract are not publicly available, his multi-year deal suggests a strong commitment to developing him as a key contributor to the Lakers' rotation.
The Los Angeles Lakers have announced a two-year deal with 25-year-old guard Kobe Bufkin, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The agreement includes a team option for the 2026-2027 season. This move is seen as a strategic recruitment to bolster the Lakers' backcourt depth, particularly in light of injuries to Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.
Bufkin has been making waves in the NBA G-League with his impressive performances, earning a spot on the Los Angeles South Bay roster. In those games, he averaged 24.7 points, shot 49.6% from the field, and dished out 3.6 assists per contest. His development has also caught the attention of head coach JJ Redick, who credits Zach Guthrie's coaching with Bufkin's improvement.
Bufkin joins the Lakers after stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets. He was drafted by Atlanta in the 2023 NBA Draft but played only two seasons before being traded for cash considerations and eventually waived.
This move comes at a time when the Lakers are seeking to solidify their guard play, particularly as backup point guard. With Bufkin on board, they can alleviate some of the pressure on star backcourt players like Reaves and Doncic. As Redick noted, having a consistent player who can earn trust for the postseason is crucial.
While details surrounding Bufkin's contract are not publicly available, his multi-year deal suggests a strong commitment to developing him as a key contributor to the Lakers' rotation.
! The kid's been putting up INSANE stats in the G-League and now he's getting a 2-yr deal with the Lakers 
. I mean, it's not like they're just wasting their money on some rookie who's gonna get hurt or anything 
. They actually see potential in him and are willing to invest in his development. And let's be real, with injuries hitting Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, the Lakers could use all the backup they can get 
. So yeah, I'm hyped for Kobe Bufkin! He might just become the unsung hero of the Lakers' team 
. Kobe Bufkin seems like he's got all the makings of a solid NBA player - the stats are insane and Coach Redick is already raving about him! I'm not surprised they signed him to a multi-year deal, either... it shows that they're committed to building a sustainable roster rather than just relying on last year's stars 
. And let's be real, with players like Reaves and Doncic getting hurt all the time, Bufkin is gonna get his chance to shine! 
. With Coach Redick's guidance, he's already shown huge improvement 
. Now it'll be exciting to see how his game evolves over the next 2 years 
. The Lakers definitely needed some depth in their backcourt, and I think Bufkin can bring that 
. Fingers crossed this is a winning formula for LA! 
hope kobes can bring that confidence to play some clutch shots tho 
the thing that gets me excited tho is the potential for him to develop into a key contributor... lakers need that kinda depth in their backcourt, especially with lebron getting up there in age 
anyway, think it's cool that Kobe Bufkin is getting a shot, he seems like a talented young guy 
Kobe Bufkin sounds like he's got some serious skills tho, 24.7 points per game? thats insane! 
but 2 years seems kinda long for a rookie...guess we'll see how it all plays out