Kobe Bufkin News, Rumors, Updates - New Orleans Pelicans

Kobe Bufkin Turns Impressive Summer League to Big Pelicans Opportunity The New Orleans Pelicans have signed former first-round pick Kobe Bufkin to a training camp contract. HoopsHype's Mike Scotto revealed the n...

JULY 27 • SI.COM

Inks pact with New Orleans Bufkin agreed to a one-year deal with the Pelicans on Saturday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com reports.

Impact After averaging 21.3 points per game across three Summer League outings with the Pelicans, Bufkin is joining New Orleans on a one-year deal. The 22-year-old guard appeared in 16 regular-season games (one start) with the Lakers in 2025-26, averaging 2.9 points in 7.4 minutes per tilt.

JULY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Pelicans face an uncomfortable roster decision as summer league winds down Kobe Bufkin has had a strong summer league for the Pelicans, but does he fill enough of a need for New Orleans to justify giving him a contr...

JULY 18 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

Rough shooting effort Sunday Bufkin finished with 15 points (4-11 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block across 28 minutes in Sunday's 81-75 Summer League win over the Suns.

Impact Bufkin's 15 points were his fewest so far in his three Summer League appearances. He also wasn't efficient shooting the ball, and his five turnovers nearly tied the rest of the Pelicans' starters combined. The 2023 No. 15 overall pick spent his first two seasons with the Hawks before suiting up for the Lakers during the 2025-26 campaign. In 43 regular-season games combined between Atlanta and Los Angeles, he averaged 4.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.2 blocks and 0.3 steals over 10.2 minutes per contest. Bufkin may earn an opportunity with another NBA club at some point moving ahead, though he will need to improve his three-point shooting. Durability has also been an issue.

JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Solid all-around effort in SL win Bufkin notched 19 points (7-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 3-3 FT), six rebounds, five assists, four steals and one block across 31 minutes in Saturday's 95-91 Summer League win over the Hornets.

Impact Although Bufkin struggled mightily from three-point range, he still scored 19 points after dropping 30 in the team's Las Vegas Summer League opener Thursday. The 22-year-old guard delivered a well-rounded line Saturday, leading New Orleans in rebounds while finishing second on the team in points and assists. He also filled the stat sheet defensively, chipping in a game-best five combined steals-plus-blocks.

JULY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Kobe Bufkin Deserves a Pelicans Chance After Dominant Summer League The New Orleans Pelicans' dismal Summer League record continued on the wrong side of history after a 105-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolv...

JULY 11 • SI.COM

Game-high 30 points Thursday Bufkin produced 30 points (8-16 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 6-9 FT), two assists, six rebounds and one block in 32 minutes during Thursday's 105-92 Summer League loss to Minnesota.

Impact Bufkin scored a game-high 30 points Thursday. After averaging a career-low 7.4 minutes per game before being waived the Lakers last season, the 2023 first-rounder is searching for a new home in 2026-27 as an unrestricted free agent this summer.

JULY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Lakers' stunning Kobe Bufkin release just made their next move obvious The Los Angeles Lakers have opened up a spot to convert one of their two-way deals.

APRIL 10 • LAKESHOWLIFE.COM

Lakers cut ties with former first round pick before playoffs | Sporting News The Los Angeles Lakers are waiving guard Kobe Bufkin a few days before the end of the 2025-26 regular season.

APRIL 10 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Waived by Lakers Bufkin was waived by the Lakers on Friday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Impact The Lakers will open up a roster spot by cutting ties with Bufkin. He made a total of 16 appearances at the NBA level for an average of 7.4 minutes per contest.

APRIL 10 • ROTOWIRE

Back to NBA Los Angeles recalled Bufkin from the G League's South Bay Lakers on Saturday.

Impact Bufkin has rejoined the NBA club ahead of Sunday's meeting with the Mavericks following his participation in the first two rounds of the G League playoffs. Bufkin has logged only four minutes of NBA play over the last 12 contests, failing to generate meaningful output. However, he has been more valuable when assigned to the G League squad, where he has posted averages of 24.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season.

APRIL 4 • ROTOWIRE

Rejoins parent club The Lakers recalled Bufkin from the G League's South Bay Lakers on Saturday, Ryan Ward of SI.com reports.

Impact Though he was assigned to South Bay ahead of Saturday's game against the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Bufkin ended up being inactive for the contest due to a right shoulder injury. The fact that Bufkin has been recalled by the Lakers could suggest that the shoulder issue isn't anything that will affect his availability for Monday's game against the Wizards, though his status won't be known one way or the other until the team posts its next injury report.

MARCH 29 • ROTOWIRE

Assigned to G League Bufkin was assigned to the G League's South Bay Lakers on Thursday, Trevor Lane of LakersNation.com reports.

Impact Bufkin will report to the G League and figures to be available to get some work Thursday night against Sioux Falls. He could also be recalled in time to join the Lakers for Friday's matchup with the Nets.

MARCH 26 • ROTOWIRE

Back with parent club The Lakers recalled Bufkin from the G League's South Bay Lakers on Sunday, Ryan Ward of SI.com reports.

Impact Bufkin and Adou Thiero were both inactive for Saturday's 105-104 win over the Magic, but the two will rejoin the Lakers ahead of their next game Monday in Detroit. Bufkin hasn't typically been included in the rotation when the Lakers are at full strength, but he could be needed to handle some minutes if Rui Hachimura (calf) and Marcus Smart (ankle) -- both of whom are listed as questionable -- are unable to play Monday.

MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE

Back with parent club The Lakers recalled Bufkin from the G League's South Bay Lakers on Saturday.

Impact Bufkin will be available off the bench for the Lakers' game Saturday against the Nuggets, but since Los Angeles is at full strength at guard and on the wing, he's not expected to be featured in the rotation. The third-year player suited up for South Bay in its 125-106 win over the Iowa Wolves on Friday, finishing with 16 points (7-11 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one block in 26 minutes.

MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE

Lakers fans are still ignoring the obvious lesson behind the Kobe Bufkin signing It was a future-minded move for the Los Angeles Lakers.

MARCH 3 • LAKESHOWLIFE.COM

Shifting to bench Bufkin won't start Thursday's game against the Mavericks, Law Murray of The Athletic reports.

Impact Bufkin was tapped for a spot start Tuesday with the Lakers without several key contributors, but he'll return to his usual bench role Thursday. The 22-year-old may not receive many chances to play given LA's backcourt has returned to health other than Luka Doncic (hamstring).

FEBRUARY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Enters starting five Bufkin is starting Tuesday's game against the Spurs, Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet reports.

Impact Bufkin will make his first start of the season with Luka Doncic (hamstring), LeBron James (foot), Austin Reaves (calf) and Marcus Smart (ankle) all out. He'll run the floor alongside Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Lakers signing Kobe Bufkin makes sense and was a smart move LOS ANGELES — Before the Lakers’ victory over the Warriors, president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka told a handful of...

FEBRUARY 9 • NYPOST.COM

Lakers foolishly bypass buyout market to sign guard LA doesn't need The Los Angeles Lakers filled their 15th roster spot by signing Kobe Bufkin over exploring more NBA-ready contributors in the buyout market.

FEBRUARY 8 • LAKESHOWLIFE.COM

Lakers filling 15th roster spot, signing Kobe Bufkin The team brought back a familiar face.

FEBRUARY 8 • NYPOST.COM

Signs two-year deal with Lakers The Lakers signed Bufkin to a two-year deal on Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Impact Bufkin was a steady contributor for the South Bay Lakers in the G League, and the guard has been rewarded with a two-year deal to fill the Lakers' open 15th roster spot. The second year of the deal is a team option for 2026-27. Bufkin will add wing depth for the Lakers but isn't expected to have a sizable role in the rotation.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Continues to score in bunches Bufkin ended with 29 points (5-13 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 8-8 FT), three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 37 minutes during Friday's 115-114 G League loss to the Capital Cit...

Impact Bufkin continues to tear it up in the scoring department in the G League. The 2023 first-rounder has reached the 20-point plateau in all but two of his last 14 appearances, during which Bufkin is averaging 27.7 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 33.8 minutes per game.

FEBRUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Contract with Lakers ends Bufkin became a free agent Friday after his 10-day contract with the Lakers expired, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports.

Impact The Lakers will have the option of bringing Bufkin back on a second 10-day deal, though it's unclear if the team intends to do so with Austin Reaves' (calf) return seemingly on the horizon. Bufkin suited up in six games for the Lakers upon signing his 10-day pact, appearing in four of those contests while averaging 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, 0.5 assists and 0.3 steals in 11.3 minutes.

JANUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Part of rotation Thursday Bufkin contributed zero points (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds, one steal and one block across 17 minutes Thursday in the Lakers' 135-117 loss to the Hornets.

Impact After being recalled from the G League's South Bay Lakers ahead of Thursday's contest, Bufkin was somewhat surprisingly included in head coach JJ Redick's rotation after his lone other appearance for Los Angeles came in garbage time of a blowout win over the Hawks on Tuesday. Bufkin was largely deferential on offensive with a minuscule 7.6 percent usage rate, but he made an impact on the other end of the court with a pair of defensive counters. While the 22-year-old might have done enough to remain part of the second unit Saturday in Portland, he's signed to a 10-day deal with the Lakers and won't necessarily be in line for a long-term stay in the rotation.

JANUARY 16 • ROTOWIRE

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