Kobe Bufkin is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association.
31 Facts About Kobe Bufkin
1.
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Kobe Bufkin has played professionally for the Hawks' NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.
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Kobe Bufkin played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines where he was a 2023 third-team All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore.
4.
Kobe Bufkin was born on September 21,2003, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Kimberly Camp and Michael Bufkin.
5.
Kobe Bufkin played basketball for Grand Rapids Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Kobe Bufkin was named to the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic rosters.
7.
Diabate, Houstan and Kobe Bufkin, were the University of Michigan's first McDonald's All-Americans since Daniel Horton in 2002.
8.
Kobe Bufkin was the state of Michigan's first McDonald's All-American since Deyonta Davis in 2015.
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Kobe Bufkin finished third in the Mr Basketball of Michigan voting by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan members.
10.
Kobe Bufkin was again recognized as a Division 2 first team All-state selection by the Associated Press, but Ke'Ontae Barnes was chosen as Division 2 Michigan state player of the year.
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Kobe Bufkin was drawn to Michigan by assistant coach Saddi Washington who was retained when Juwan Howard took over from John Beilein.
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Kobe Bufkin marked Howard's first instate commitment since becoming Michigan head coach the year before.
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Kobe Bufkin reached double digits with 10 against Iowa on February 17,2022.
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Kobe Bufkin picked up a lot of minutes as a sophomore following the 2022 departures of Brooks, Jones and Frankie Collins.
15.
Kobe Bufkin posted a then-career-high 22 points in back-to-back games against Lipscomb and North Carolina in the Jumpman Invitational.
16.
On February 2,2023, Kobe Bufkin contributed 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, for his first career double-double as well as a career-high eight assists against Northwestern.
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Kobe Bufkin had been projected to be selected in the teens by several NBA draft prognosticators.
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Almost all draft experts felt that Kobe Bufkin was a very good selection by the Hawks at 15.
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On July 3,2023, Kobe Bufkin signed a rookie-scale contract with the Atlanta Hawks.
20.
Kobe Bufkin played for Atlanta in the 2023 NBA Summer League in the unfamiliar role as point guard.
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Kobe Bufkin got more playing time than any other Hawk in the summer league.
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Kobe Bufkin posted averages of 14 points, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
23.
Kobe Bufkin likely scored first because he scored his points in the Central Time Zone of Milwaukee, while Brown scored his first points at home for the Los Angeles Clippers in the Pacific Time Zone.
24.
When Kobe Bufkin's thumb healed, he was assigned to the Hawks' NBA G-League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks and posted performances of 34,29,33 and 27 points in his first four games for them.
25.
On January 29,2024, Kobe Bufkin posted 43 points for the Skyhawks.
26.
In 14 appearances with the Skyhawks, Kobe Bufkin averaged 23.6 points, 5.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals with four performances of 30 points or more.
27.
When 2024 NBA All-Star Trae Young required surgery on a ligament of a finger on his left hand in late February 2024, Kobe Bufkin was thrust into the main rotation.
28.
However, after those four games Kobe Bufkin was in a boot with a big toe injury.
29.
Kobe Bufkin showed potential in his return, especially in a defensive assignment against Kyrie Irving.
30.
Kobe Bufkin is the son of Mike Bufkin and Kimberly Camp.
31.
Bufkin's parents were fans of the Michigan men's basketball team since the Fab Five era, and named his brothers after Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas, but the family debates about whether Kobe was really named after Kobe Bryant.