{"id":172617,"date":"2026-01-13T16:01:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T21:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=172617"},"modified":"2026-01-13T16:16:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T21:16:32","slug":"lakers-sign-kobe-bufkin-explosive-g-league-scorer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/01\/13\/lakers-sign-kobe-bufkin-explosive-g-league-scorer\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Shore Up Bench By Signing Explosive G League Scorer"},"content":{"rendered":"

After weeks of turning heads in the NBA G League, <\/span>Kobe Bufkin<\/span><\/a> has earned a call-up to a team in dire need of his abilities. The Lakers signed Bufkin to a ten-day contract ahead of tonight\u2019s game against the Atlanta Hawks, according to <\/span>The Athletic\u2019s Dan Woike<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers Shore Up Bench By Signing Explosive G League Scorer<\/b><\/h2>\n

Background on Bufkin<\/b><\/h3>\n

The 15th overall pick by the Hawks in 2023, Bufkin received limited opportunities in two seasons with Atlanta. Across 27 career games (12 minutes per contest), he averaged five points, two rebounds and 1.6 assists on less than desirable shooting splits (.374\/.220\/.654). This offseason, the Hawks traded him to the Brooklyn Nets, who <\/span>waived him<\/span><\/a> in October. Bufkin joined the South Bay Lakers shortly after, and has starred for them ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dec
Dec 2, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kobe Bufkin (4) shoots against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bufkin, who averaged 28.5 points across two seasons with Atlanta\u2019s G League affiliate, brought that same aggressiveness to South Bay. In just seven regular-season outings so far, he\u2019s <\/span>averaged<\/span><\/a> a league-leading 28.7 points, along with 5.4 rebounds and five assists per game while shooting 54% from the field, 39% from three and 89% from the free-throw line. He previously earned a <\/span>call-up to the Memphis Grizzlies<\/span><\/a> in November, but did not take the floor for the injury-laden squad.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bufkin Brings Two-Way Talent to LA<\/b><\/h3>\n

Bufkin\u2019s signing is welcome news for Laker fans, regardless of whether or not they\u2019ve followed the team\u2019s G League affiliate. He most recently delivered a <\/span>37-point masterclass<\/span><\/a> despite a loss to the Austin Spurs on Jan. 9, stuffing the stat sheet with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Performances like that quickly put him on fans\u2019 radars, with some <\/span>clamoring for LA to sign him this season<\/span><\/a>. The Lakers finally granted that wish at just the perfect time.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team is in the middle of a <\/span>jam-packed week<\/span><\/a>, playing four more games in the next six days. <\/span>Monday\u2019s loss to the Kings<\/span><\/a> exposed one of the Lakers\u2019 biggest flaws: finding any other source of scoring besides <\/span>Luka Doncic<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>LeBron James<\/span><\/a>. The duo combined for 64 of LA\u2019s 112 points. Adding insult to injury, the team\u2019s second unit had no answer for former Laker <\/span>Malik Monk<\/span><\/a>, who torched them for 26 points while they mustered 32 combined. Bufkin\u2019s offensive firepower should at least ease the burden, but it\u2019s his defensive mentality that should receive just as much attention.<\/span><\/p>\n