The Lakers are using their final roster spot in-house with reports of signing 22-year-old two-way guard Kobe Bufkin to a two-year standard NBA contract with a team option in 2026-27, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Michigan native has made a name for himself this season with impressive performances for the Lakers’ South Bay G-League team. In 26 games for South Bay, Bufkin has averaged 26.7 points on 43% shooting from 3 and 51.3% overall.
Advertisement
This signing comes after Bufkin posted a career-high 41 points on Wednesday in South Bay’s win over Capital City Go-Go, having 30 of those points in the first half after starting the game seven for seven from 3. In the previous game, he started six for six from deep.
Bufkin gives the Lakers another 3-point weapon off the bench for coach JJ Redick, as the team now has two new additions to the roster after trading for sharpshooting guard Luke Kennard — for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick — on the last day of the trade deadline.
Bufkin has appeared in four games this season for the Lakers after signing a 10-day contract with the team on Jan. 13. In those games he averaged 3.0 points in 11.3 minutes.
#Reports #Lakers #sign #guard #Kobe #Bufkin #twoyear #standard #deal