The Atlanta Hawks were one of the most talked about teams heading into draft night, but all that trade chatter turned into just one minor deal to acquire a second-round pick. Kobe Bufkin slipped to Atlanta at 15 on a wild draft night. The 6’4 guard got plenty of buzz throughout the draft process, and The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor had him ranked eighth on his draft board.
Bufkin was one of three rookies that joined the Hawks in Thursday’s draft. They selected Mouhamed Gueye and Seth Lundy in the second round to give them some cost-controlled options as their payroll increases. All three could become necessary contributors after the Hawks shed salary to get under the new second tax apron.
What can fans expect from Bufkin? The 19-year-old needs time to develop, but he is excited to work with Hawks talented backcourt. Bufkin has a ton of potential, so who could supporters look to as comps for the 6’4 guard out of Michigan?
Floor comparison for Atlanta Hawks guard Kobe Bufkin: Coby White
Fans may not love to see this as his floor, but there are a ton of similarities. During his lone season at UNC, White averaged 2.1 more points and 1.2 assists in 5.5 fewer minutes per game. Their defensive stats were nearly identical per 40 minutes except for Bufkin blocking 0.4 more shots per game.
White was the seventh overall pick and is a 6’5 guard that weighs 195 pounds. Bufkin measured 6’4 and weighed 186.8 pounds at the combine. They are of similar size and both have shown flashes of playmaking ability.
Coby White has scored well during his first four NBA seasons, but he has struggled to find a consistent role as he enters restricted free agency. The 23-year-old profiles as a scoring guard off the bench that must improve his defense to get more run.
Kobe Bufkin has a higher ceiling, but in the worst case, he could become Coby White. The Hawks are hoping for more, but his playing time will be limited behind Trae Young and Dejounte just as White struggles to get minutes with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan in Chicago.
Realistic comparison: Tyrese Maxey
Maxey is slightly shorter and a few pounds heavier, but they produced extremely similar college stats. In his lone year at Kentucky, the current 76ers guard averaged the same points, 0.3 more assists, and 0.2 fewer rebounds in 0.5 additional minutes per game than Bufkin. The Hawks rookie also averaged 0.4 more steals and 0.3 blocks each game.
Maxey averaged just 15.3 minutes per game in his rookie season, but he quickly blossomed into a key piece for the Sixers. The 22-year-old produced 20.3 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 33.6 minutes per game last season playing next to Joel Embiid and James Harden in Philadelphia. Maxey is viewed as a future star with All-Star potential.
Hawks fans would be ecstatic if Kobe Bufkin turned into Tyrese Maxey. Atlanta actually selected the 19-year-old six spots higher than Philly chose Maxey. Both players slipped a bit in their classes from where scouts had them projected partially because of their size.
Kobe Bufkin improved significantly in his second year at the University of Michigan, which had most experts believing there was significantly more room to grow. What if the teenager reaches his ceiling? What should Atlanta Hawks fans expect?
Dream comparison: Bradley Beal
Both Beal and Bufkin measured 6’4 with a 6’8 wingspan. The three-time NBA All-Star was 15 pounds heavier back in the 2012 combine, but he also put up similar college stats to the Hawks rookie. Beal scored and rebounded slightly more, but Bufkin had a minor edge in assists and field goal percentage.
The Wizards selected Beal third overall in 2012 and instantly made him a starter. He slowly blossomed into one of the league’s best scorers, and he has put up over 22.5 points per game for seven straight years. The 30-year-old wing is a three-time All-Star on a max contract that has twice averaged over 30 points a night for a season.
Can Kobe Bufkin blossom into one of the league’s elite scorers? It cannot be ruled out. He showed flashes both on and off the ball at the University of Michigan, but how quickly can he translate that to the NBA? Bufkin has the potential to be a better defender than Maxey or Beal if he reaches his ceiling, which would make him a perennial All-Star candidate.
Atlanta Hawks fans should be excited to watch Kobe Bufkin in summer league because it will be their first chance to see him put on the uniform and shine. The teenager needs time to develop, but he could be viewed as the steal of this draft ten years from now. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting ride.
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