Kobe Bufkin 2023 NBA Draft Profile
Kobe Bufkin is a sophomore Shooting Guard from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has yet to depart from his home state of Michigan, having played for Grand Rapids Christian High School and then going on to play for the Michigan Wolverines the last two collegiate basketball seasons. Bufkin possesses many promising signs as an efficient combo guard in the NBA and has been among the biggest risers in terms of his draft stock with the NBA Draft approaching this week.
Kobe Bufkin 2023 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Bufkin had an excellent breakout year for Michigan last season, averaging 14 points, 2.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds for the Wolverines. Over the final eight games of the season, Bufkin would increase his scoring output by averaging 19.3 points per game, while shooting 45% from three on five attempts per game. Following the end of his sophomore season with Michigan, Bufkin would earn All-Big Ten 3rd Team recognition for his standout season.
Strengths
Bufkin displays a lot of potential from the guard position on both sides of the ball. Bufkin is an efficient scorer, having averaged shooting splits of 48% from the field, 35% from three, and 85% from the free throw line during his sophomore season at Michigan. He can run the offense at the point when needed and operates well in the pick-and-roll. Bufkin not only can be effective with the ball in his hands, but he also has displayed the ability to play well off the ball. By constantly cutting toward the rim, paired with his quickness, Bufkin makes it easy for his teammates to find him near the paint for easy finishes.
Bufkin also is a tenacious point-of-attack defender. Through his high intensity and disciplinary focus on the defensive end, Bufkin usually was no easy match for opposing guards during his time at Michigan. He averaged 1.3 steals per game his sophomore season and usually found ways to be disruptive as a perimeter defender. Bufkin also can play defense in transition at a high level, which he displayed with some of his chase-down block highlights at Michigan.
Weaknesses
While Bufkin has a clear-cut toughness to him, he does have a bit of a small frame, which always poses a small room for concern when entering the NBA. Weighing in at around 195 pounds, Bufkin is not necessarily one of the lightest players in the league, and he could easily still add some mass in the next couple of years, but his current frame may cost him some trouble going up against some of the bigger guards in the league.
Bufkin also can sometimes be a little lackluster with his handle. He averaged around two turnovers per game during his second season with Michigan, with many of those turnovers being the result of Bufkin sometimes losing some concentration. His handle overall should not be a main area of concern, he just needs to improve on not going through stints where he seems to lack some focus in order to not commit too many unforced turnovers.
NBA Player Comparison
While a bit coincidental, Bufkin possesses a lot of similar qualities to that of a former Michigan Wolverine, Jordan Poole. Poole is also a 6’4ish combo guard, who also has proven to be a very effective scorer both on and off the ball. Bufkin and Poole both possess the ability to score efficiently from the perimeter, while also being able to finish at the rim. However, Bufkin appears to be a much better defender than Poole. Defensively, Bufkin reminds me of a young Jrue Holiday. While I am aware that is some high praise, considering Holiday is one of the best defenders in the NBA, Bufkin’s play on the defensive end with his quick hands and ability to defend well in the transition does resemble Holiday’s style of play during his UCLA and 76ers days.
NBA Draft Projection
While Bufkin is likely to go toward the latter half of the first round, his recent draft stock rise could see him being taken anywhere from the end of the lottery to the late ‘teen’ picks in the draft.
