Kobe Bufkin selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft
That’s not a headline many in the Michigan basketball community would have expected at this time last year. And perhaps not at the culmination of the 2022-23 season, either.
But the stars aligned perfectly for Wolverines shooting guard Kobe Bufkin. Coming off of his second year, and his first as a starter, despite Michigan’s moribund season, the Grand Rapids native was one of the maize and blue’s few bright spots. He started slow but ended up being a dependable player down the stretch.
It was no surprise given his 14-point-per-game average last year, along with 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists that he would test the NBA draft waters, and once it appeared he would be a first-rounder, it was a no-brainer he’d stay in.
And it paid off. Though he wasn’t a lottery pick as the mock drafts indicated, Bufkin still went in the first round at No. 15 to the Atlanta Hawks. He follows Kobe Bufkin who went at No. 11 overall to the Orlando Magic.
Sources: Atlanta is selecting Kobe Bufkin at No. 15. https://t.co/Z8rZKX2Rl3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2023
The breakdown from NBA.com:
Overview
Bursting onto the scene down the final stretch for Michigan, Kobe Bufkin’s sophomore year emergence earned him Third-team All-Big Ten honors. Over Michigan’s final 12 games, Bufkin averaged 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals-plus-blocks per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from beyond the arc. Bufkin was a McDonald’s All-American in 2021, and he’s very young for his class, not turning 20 until September 2023.
Analysis
Bufkin is a do-it-all combo guard specializing in scoring at the basket. His body control and offensive polish are impressive. He’s a well-built lefty at 6-foot-5 that can score at all three levels. Bufkin makes good decisions with the ball in his hands, is a great rebounder for a guard, and has a size that yields natural versatility. Finding a prospect with so few holes, flashy skills, and above-average size at a premium position is rare.
Projection
The sample size on Bufkin is small, but there are strong indicators that he’s fundamentally sound with a high ceiling. He’ll need some reps orchestrating an NBA offense, but his hustle will earn him minutes, and his shooting is already credible. The slashing should translate. Bufkin may be locked into a sizable role by the later stages of his rookie season and could become a reliable sixth man sooner than later.
With Bufkin gone, Michigan basketball will be turning to transfer Nimari Burnett, who had initially considered committing to the Wolverines before going to Texas Tech and then Alabama.
More Basketball!
Twitter reactions: Michigan's Jett Howard was selected in the 2023 NBA draft
Jett Howard first Big Ten player selected in 2023 NBA draft
Where Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin go in ESPN's latest 2023 NBA mock draft
Michigan basketball misses out on Kentucky transfer
An offer for Wolverines fans
For the best local Detroit news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.
