Kobe Bufkin

[cupcakesnake]

I currently have Kobe Bufkin at 12 on my board.
I think he's the most rock solid guard in this draft amongst players with a high enough talent level to consider spending a lottery pick on.

Unlike a lot of guards in this draft, Bufkin has an easy time getting to the rim and scoring there. I find that to be a key indicator for NBA success much more so than having a deep bag of tricks to get off crafty midrange shots (kind of Bufkin's weakness).

I like his potential in most other areas: as a PnR creator, as a movement shooter. The defense is great and I think he plays a lot bigger than his listed height.

[theBigLip]

Howard was getting better every game then he got hurt. I think he has a lot more potential to untap.

As for Bufkin, the Wolverines would have been (more of) a mess without him. Steady, makes good decisions, can score, plays D, just a smart baller. Not going to be an NBA All Star, but being a starter seems like a good ceiling for him.

[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]

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

[Jamaaliver]

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[HiDef]

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Good end of year highlights on Bufkin

He feels a lot to me like a Mitchell or Haliburton where everyone wishes they went higher on him, when it's all said and done.

The body control and speed control are good tools, and I think he's going to benefit a ton from getting bigger, stronger and more explosive.

[MemphisX]

Watch on YouTube

Good end of year highlights on Bufkin

He feels a lot to me like a Mitchell or Haliburton where everyone wishes they went higher on him, when it's all said and done.

The body control and speed control are good tools, and I think he's going to benefit a ton from getting bigger, stronger and more explosive.

One of my favorites in this draft and I agree with you totally. He is going to be drafted way too low.

[Jamaaliver]

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

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[CP3nthusiast]

If he somehow falls to the Raptors at 13, I will have a full body orgasm.

[tmorgan]

Not just cuz he’s on my team… some guys are athletes that need heavy work to be ballers. Some guys are ballers that work hard to be athletes. KB is the latter.

[jazzfan1971]

Is he anything like Donovan Mitchell?

[babyjax13]

Is he anything like Donovan Mitchell?

Doesn't have the same athleticism. Has a really nice midrange game like Donovan, though. That's probably where they are most similar. Someone probably has a better comp, I've only seen him play twice. Reminded me a bit of D'Lo if D'Lo were a better/more competitive defender.

[kobyz]

Bigger Jason Terry?

[HiDef]

KOC had a solid comp with Immanuel Quickley / Tyrese Maxey

Have heard a lot of people compare him w/ Jordan Poole

Kind of reminds me of old man Drose in terms of style

[EvanZ]

Right now he kind of reminds me of Poole or Dinwiddie (but skinnier).


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[LakersLegacy]

Lakers will take him if he’s still available at 17. We could take another Kobe at 47 as well haha

[EvanZ]

LA took Kobe! And by LA I mean the Clippers. And by Kobe I mean the fat one.

[pcbothwel]

Right now he kind of reminds me of Poole or Dinwiddie (but skinnier).


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I've been saying Poole/Herro with better defense, but I love that Dinwiddie comp.