This year, the Atlanta Hawks selected Kobe Bufkin with the 15th overall pick. The guard out of Michigan last season averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Bufkin also shot very well, shooting 48.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT, and 84.9% FT.
With the Atlanta Hawks ranking in the middle of the league in bench points, Bufkin looks to be a great scoring addition to the bench unit. Bufkin looks to be in line to get guard duties off the bench this upcoming season as he will be able to relieve Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Last season Aaron Holiday came off the bench at point guard for the Hawks in 63 games averaging 13.4 minutes per game. Holiday signed a one-year deal with the Houston Rockets this offseason, which opens the door for Bufkin.
During this year’s NBA Summer League, Bufkin started in all five games for the Atlanta Hawks averaging 14 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Although his shooting percentages were down, as the summer continued, Bufkin looked more and more confident. Even hitting a game-winner against Philadelphia. You can expect Bufkin to continue to improve off this Summer League.
Kobe Bufkin for the Win!! pic.twitter.com/yJMZiWob4H
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 13, 2023
Bufkin will be a great two-way player off the bench this season for the Hawks, as he provides depth at the guard position as well as perimeter defending totaling 43 steals and 23 blocks at Michigan last season.
Hawks’ AJ Griffin in line to take on a bigger role this season
After the departure of John Collins and a lot of trade talk around De’Andre Hunter and Clint Capela, the youth of the Atlanta Hawks are in store for larger roles this upcoming 2023-2024 season. Players such as Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and more importantly AJ Griffin are those that will need to step up this year.
Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu both appeared in the play-in game and playoffs and showed that they bring a lot of versatility on offense and defense. Rookie AJ Griffin had his moments this season that showed he can take on a bigger role in the Hawks lineup next season.
AJ Griffin appeared in 72 games last season, averaging 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 46.5% FG, 39% 3PT, and 89.4% FT. Griffin is going to be only 20 years old when the 2023-2024 season begins and will look to take on a larger role. Griffin has shown that he can provide a spark with two game-winners last season and dropping a career-high 24 points in a win against the now NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
Griffin then appeared in two games, before shutting him down, in this year’s NBA Summer League. Griffin averaged 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.