Why Lakers’ Kobe Bufkin Is Worth Watching During 10-Day Deal

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just sign a random G League guard when they brought in Kobe Bufkin on a 10-day contract. They signed a former first-round pick, a G League scorer on a heater, and a player who might be peaking at exactly the right time.

Bufkin, the №15 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Michigan, has had a rocky start to his NBA career. Injuries and a crowded backcourt in Atlanta limited his opportunities, and his NBA numbers with the Hawks last season reflected that.

In 2024–25, Bufkin averaged just 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 38.3% from the field in limited minutes. On paper, that doesn’t look like a player ready to contribute to a playoff team.

But those numbers don’t tell the whole story.

The Lakers have signed guard Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract. pic.twitter.com/QjISESkAc3

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 13, 2026

A Different Player in South Bay

When Bufkin was sent to the G League, he didn’t just look better; he looked great.

With the South Bay Lakers, Bufkin has been one of the most productive guards in the entire league, averaging 28.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. That stat line doesn’t belong to a fringe player. It belongs to a guard who can run an offense, create his own shot, and carry a scoring load.

And just three days before getting the call to the Lakers, Bufkin dropped 37 points in a South Bay game, a clear signal that he’s playing with confidence and rhythm.

That contrast matters. In Atlanta, Bufkin was a young guard buried behind stars and veterans. In South Bay, he became the focal point, and the results were explosive. The Lakers aren’t signing him because of what he did in a limited Hawks role; they’re signing him because of what he’s doing right now.

And on top of that, the Lakers are really struggling with shot-making and secondary ball-handling without Austin Reaves, a seemingly perfect opportunity for Bufkin.

What Kobe Bufkin Can Actually Bring to the Lakers

At 6’4” and 195 pounds, Bufkin has the size to guard either backcourt spot. But what makes him interesting for the Lakers is his offensive profile.

He isn’t just a catch-and-shoot guy. His lower NBA field-goal percentage suggests he was taking difficult shots, pull-ups, late-clock attempts, and self-created looks, not just wide-open spot-ups. That lines up with what he’s shown in the G League: a guard who can attack off the dribble, score in isolation, and make plays for others.

For the Lakers, that’s exactly what’s missing when LeBron James and Luka sit.

Too often, the offense stalls without a guard who can break down the defense and create something out of nothing. Bufkin’s ability to score in bunches and handle the ball gives him a real chance to fill that gap, even in short bursts.

He also fits the profile of a modern 10-day pickup: young, athletic, hungry, and capable of injecting energy into a rotation without needing the offense built around him.

Why This Isn’t Just a Tryout

Ten-day contracts are usually just stopgaps. But Bufkin feels different.

He’s not a career G Leaguer getting a cameo. He’s a recent first-round pick who has already shown he can dominate when given freedom. The Lakers are essentially testing whether that South Bay version of Bufkin can survive, even at a reduced level, in NBA minutes.

If even a fraction of his G League production translates, he could give the Lakers something they badly need: a young scoring guard who can keep the offense alive when the stars rest.

And after a 37-point performance just days before the call-up, Bufkin enters this opportunity with momentum, confidence, and nothing to lose.

He has appeared in two games for the Lakers thus far. He played four minutes against the Atlanta Hawks and had three points, a rebound, and an assist. Against the Charlotte Hornets, he logged 17 minutes, posting zero points, three rebounds, a steal, and a block. Bufkin could play a key role in the upcoming stretch with three games in four nights.

For a team searching for backcourt stability, Kobe Bufkin might be more than just a 10-day experiment; he might be a spark.