Prospect Spotlight 2023: Kobe Bufkin

[Jamaaliver]

My new favorite draft prospect for this summer.

Kobe Bufkin | 6'4" | G | 19 years old

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Not only is he clearly Michigan’s best prospect, but I have a lottery grade on him right now. There isn’t really anything he does poorly. A couple of NBA executives have brought up the idea to me that he doesn’t necessarily “pop” for them, and there are some concerns we’ll delve into, but Bufkin is a well-rounded, long-armed 6-foot-4 guard who I think has upside to play as a true lead long term. And more importantly, he’s the kind of two-way player who likely won’t take anything off the floor.

Bufkin’s top skill is finishing around the basket. He made 67 percent of his shots at the rim in half-court settings, an absurd number for a teenage guard. But more than that, what I love about Bufkin is that there is no fluff to his game. There is no wasted motion. He makes quick decisions. If he has an open shot, he’ll take it. If he needs to attack a closeout, he’ll attack it quickly. He tries to get downhill if he can both when he’s playing on and off ball. He plays in straight lines, and he’s really smart. He rarely turns the ball over.

Spoiler:

But beyond that, he’s really skilled. He’s sharp in ball-screen actions. He’s still developing the right mix between shooting and passing, but he hits high-level passing reads regularly with one-handed live-dribble kick-outs and lobs with either hand. As a pull-up threat, he’s still developing. But he made 33 percent from 3 on those shots. He’s good at stringing out his man in drop coverage and stopping them with hesitation dribbles, then stepping back and firing on-balance. He has real shot versatility, in that he can get to them from 3 or from the midrange area. But he also makes them directly off the catch too. He hit 37 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this season on about three per game, per Synergy.

I also think Bufkin is also a sharp defender. He’s one of eight high-major draft prospects to average at least 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He’s good on the ball against guards due to his pressure. You have to always be aware of his hands, and he uses his quickness well. He stays in front of his man and uses that length to contest jumpers well but also fights through screens at a high level. Off the ball, he’s good in rotation, and he’s a sharp weakside rim protector for a guard. He’s terrific as a scramble defender.

All of this leads to Bufkin being incredibly impactful on the court. Over the course of the season, Michigan’s drastic defensive improvement was in big part due to him. The Wolverines went from outside of the top 100 defensively nationally in the first half of the season to actually becoming the second-best defensive team in the Big Ten in terms of defensive efficiency. Bufkin was, by far, the most impactful player on Michigan this year. When Bufkin was on the court, Michigan beat its opponent by 10 points per 100 possessions. When Bufkin was off the court, Michigan lost those minutes by 12 points per 100 possessions. In Big Ten, it was even more drastic, as Michigan won its minutes with Bufkin by 10.1 points and lost its minutes without him by 20.1 points per 100.

The Athletic

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[Jamaaliver]

KOBE BUFKIN, G, Wolverines

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A lanky guard with excellent body control and some advanced passing chops. Bufkin emerged as one of Michigan’s most reliable offensive weapons, frequently flying around screens or DHOs before attacking downhill off the catch. He competes hard defensively too. If you buy the development of his jumper as a reliable weapon, then there’s a clear path to regular NBA minutes as a connective playmaker and off-ball scorer.

The Step Back

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Scouts started to take Bufkin seriously as the off-the-dribble shooting, crafty finishing and two-way playmaking consistently popped over the last few months. He was far more efficient than some of the projected one-and-done lottery guards, and considering he's still 19 years old, it's not out of the question teams start thinking about Bufkin as an option earlier than mid-first-round.

Bleacher Report

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Grabbing scouts’ attention with a mix of three-level shot-making, ball-screen playmaking, finishing craft (72.0 percent at rim) and defense, Kobe Bufkin has entered the draft discussion. Whether we’re talking 2023 or 2024 remains to be seen, but he’s generating NBA buzz with his versatility and efficiency, particularly after scoring a season-high 28 points in a late season victory over Wisconsin.

Mid March on NBA.com

[Jamaaliver]

Kobe Bufkin (Michigan, PG/SG, Sophomore)

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A steady buildup of ball-handling and shot-making flashes culminated in Bufkin averaging 18.7 points over his final nine games. The eye test buys the smoothness of his creativity, dribble-jumper game and craftiness around the basket, but there are also promising stat indicators.

Bufkin shot 84.9 percent from the free-throw line and 48.9 percent on long twos, both of which are promising signs for his shooting potential (35.5 percent on only 3.7 3PTA). Although he isn't super strong or athletic, he was the most efficient finisher (71.1 percent at the rim) among first-round guards, showing impressive body control and adjustments to challenges.

Savvy passing, quick hands on defense and age (19) pump more intrigue into Bufkin's scouting report. He'll have an interesting decision ahead with a bigger 2023-24 role waiting and a weaker draft class to compete with next year.

Bleacher Report

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[Jamaaliver]

Kobe Bufkin: 2023 NBA Draft Scouting Report

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Thanks to an explosive final five weeks of the season, Kobe Bufkin is no longer hiding. He broke out as a true draft candidate half-way through his sophomore season. From February 1st onward, he averaged 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on 52-45-89 splits.

Now, Bufkin is firmly involved in first-round discussions and might even be the best prospect on the Michigan team. He helps his team in so many different ways, both in terms of usage and impact. For a 6’4” combo guard, he was impactful across the board and in any metric you’d use to measure him.

Right now, Bufkin is more of the ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ guard. He’s got good size and athletic traits, a really projectable shot off the bounce or the catch, efficient finishing with both hands, and the quick hands and instincts to be a plus defender. Even while he’s been statistically impactful and flashed all those skills as positives, he doesn’t really have a signature skill or area where he impacts the game.

He’s not a proven high-volume creator for himself or others. He’s great around the rim, but the role he plays to get him there consistently isn’t defined. He’s shown good defense on most possessions but doesn’t scream ‘lockdown guy’.

More than anything, Bufkin is just a damn good basketball player. He’s a young sophomore who has played different roles in college and adapted well to them all. As he came into his own with the Wolverines over the final six weeks of the season, we saw a great deal of potential for who Bufkin can become if he consistently puts all those traits together. And that version of him is pretty damn good at basketball.

The Box and One

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

I doubt Kobe falls this far. Like Jaylen Williams last summer, the dude just keeps rising up draft boards.

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[CP War Hawks]

Deeper dive, when he was paired with NBA caliber guards he couldn't contain them. Wallace, Beekman, JHS, Shannon, Pickett 2x. Not sure he'll hold his own vs NBA guards.

[King Ken]

I don't love him but then again, I don't most most of these guys this year. He wouldn't be an awful pick. I just dont know if he can fill Aaron's spot

[Jamaaliver]

Kobe Bufkin | Michigan | Sophomore

6'4" | 187 lb | Wingspan: 6'8" | 19 years old

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;pp=ygULa29iZSBidWZraW4%3D

13 ppg -- 4.5 apg -- 35.5 3PT%

SHADES OF: Tyrese Maxey and Immanuel Quickley fused together

PLUSES

• Versatile half-court talent who can thrive with or without the ball. Michigan used him in pick-and-rolls and handoffs, and he showed potential for improvising as a cutter and relocator. Pairing him with an offensive hub would be ideal.
• Excellent, ambidextrous at-rim finisher who can hit flip shots without even leaving his feet. But when he does elevate, he glides through the air for acrobatic at-rim touch finishes, and he doesn’t need a ton of space to get above the rim for dunks.
• Dramatically improved his efficiency as a shooter during his sophomore season, showcasing reliable ability off the catch and smooth, consistent mechanics.
• Flashes upside as a dribble-jumper scorer who can get super hot from midrange. He has pull-ups, side steps, and stepbacks all in his bag. He looks especially comfortable dribbling laterally to get into his shots, a valuable tool when facing pressure.
• As a playmaker capable of making both simple reads and complex feeds even when under duress, he offers more on offense than just his scoring.
• Blends excellent fundamentals with playmaking skill as a defender. He sits in a stance and keeps his arms wide and high when sliding man-to-man, but he also loves to jab at the ball to force turnovers or bother the opponent.
• Hustles with intensity when away from the ball. He helps on drives, flies in to contest at the rim, sprints up the floor for chase-down blocks, and rebounds well for a smaller guy.

MINUSES

• Gets out of control at times as a ball handler and commits too many careless turnovers, throwing the ball into traffic when searching for the roller.
• Unproven shooter off the dribble: He made 37.5 percent and 34.3 percent of his 3s, per Synergy. But he took barely any attempts at all as a freshman, so that’s at least an improvement.
• Weighed in at only 195 pounds as a sophomore, so he will get picked on defensively at the next level. Improving at defending without fouling will be a priority.

The Ringer

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Seeing this picture leaves me with so many questions...

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[Jamaaliver]

I really regret his stock rose so much we likely have no shot at getting him...

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[Jamaaliver]

Man, this kid jumped up draft boards quickly. I really wish more underachieving freshmen would return for a 2nd year of college. The extra preparation can be crucial for their long term success in the league.

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[Jamaaliver]

Holy moly!!!

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[HMFFL]

I love it.
One of my guys!!!!!

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