The Atlanta Hawks are 14-13 and own the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. Additionally, they are fresh off a solid NBA Cup run, where they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals. After finishing as the No. 10 seed last year and trading Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Hawks have surprised many people. They are unlikely to pose a real threat in the playoffs, but they are playing solid basketball regardless. Unfortunately for the team, they will have to continue the rest of their campaign without one of their young guards. In a recent press release, the Hawks announced that second-year guard Kobe Bufkin will miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury. According to the press release, Bufkin will undergo season-ending surgery, but he should be ready for the 2025-26 season.
An @emoryhealthcare injury update:
After continued evaluation and additional medical opinions, guard Kobe Bufkin and the Hawks have determined that Bufkin will undergo surgery to address right shoulder instability on January 7, 2025.
He will miss the remainder of the 2024-25… pic.twitter.com/7hRSq0Z6DV
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 18, 2024
Young Atlanta Hawks Guard to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Kobe Bufkin’s Season Before the Injury
Bufkin, who the Hawks selected with the No. 15 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, missed the team’s first 14 games due to a shoulder injury. Additionally, he missed the Summer League because of a similar injury. In parts of two seasons in the NBA, Bufkin has only played 27 total games. Last season, the Michigan native averaged just 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. While a small sample size, Bufkin played a little better this season and earned more playing time. Prior to his injury, Bufkin averaged 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
The second-year guard is a talented player. However, injuries have derailed his young career so far. When healthy, he is a very well-rounded player who has the capabilities of cracking the Hawks’ starting lineup down the line. Unfortunately, it will have to take another season before the Hawks can give Bufkin another opportunity.
The Last Word
There is a lot to like about the Hawks so far this season. Star guard Trae Young is having another fantastic season, averaging a league-leading 12.1 assists per game. Additionally, Dyson Daniels, who the Hawks acquired as part of the Murray deal, is having a breakout campaign. Daniels is averaging 3 steals per game, which leads the league.
Many Hawks players have also been the subject of trade rumors. Most notably, veterans like Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic are realistic trade candidates. On the flip side, the Hawks reportedly have little interest in moving on from Larry Nance Jr., who will hit unrestricted free agency next season.
The Hawks are a Play-In team at the moment, so it could make sense for the team to make some trades this season for a second-half push. At this point, nothing is imminent. However, the trade deadline is a little less than two months away. If the Hawks continue to play good basketball, they could find themselves active in the trade market.
