The timing matters in the NBA, and right now the Los Angeles Lakers are running short on it. Another three-game losing streak has tightened the mood around the team, and a back-to-back stretch offers little breathing room. With the Atlanta Hawks visiting on Tuesday, the Lakers needed flexibility, energy, and options.
Those needs often push teams toward familiar veterans, but Los Angeles looked elsewhere. The G League, long used as a development lane, became a quick solution as roster uncertainty lingered and minutes needed filling. The Lakers had an open spot and a chance to act.
That move came fast. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers signed Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract. NBA rules allowed teams to begin issuing 10-day deals on January 5, and Los Angeles wasted little time using that option.
Bufkin’s road back to the league has been eventful. Drafted 15th overall in 2023, he was waived by the Brooklyn Nets before the season began and landed with the South Bay Lakers. Instead of drifting, he took control of the opportunity.
He knows his pathway to the NBA is on the defensive end of the floor, while also raising his efficiency and playmaking as well,
Kobe Bufkin: A hot start that forced attention
In 14 games with South Bay, Bufkin averaged 26.7 points, nearly five rebounds, and over four assists while shooting efficiently across the board. G League statistics show he connected on more than 52 percent of his field goals, over 40 percent from three, and better than 90 percent at the free-throw line. He also posted two 40-point games, production that is hard to ignore at any level.
His play had already drawn NBA interest. The Memphis Grizzlies signed him to a 10-day hardship contract in November, though he never appeared in a game and was later replaced by Christian Koloko. That brief stint reinforced a familiar lesson for young guards. Scoring opens doors, but defense and consistency keep them open.
For the Lakers, the signing is about short-term help and long-term evaluation. Bufkin is expected to be available against Atlanta, giving him a chance to show more than just shot-making. With the season pressing forward and little margin for error, Los Angeles is betting that momentum from South Bay can translate quickly on an NBA floor.
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