The Atlanta Hawks selected Kobe Bufkin with the No. 15 overall selection at the 2023 NBA Draft. It was a clear declaration of the franchise's belief that Bufkin has the tools to develop into a high-level player who can secure a steady and reliable role in the rotation.
Two years after being drafted just outside of the lottery range, the 21-year-old is rewarding the Hawks' belief by dominating Summer League.
Summer League is a polarizing event, with it being stated ad nauseam that everything viewers see must be taken with a grain of salt. The gap between a fringe NBA player and those who reside at the highest level is more profound than one might expect.
As such, showing out against competition that plays at a lower level than the average NBA game only means so much for what the future may hold.
Acknowledging that, what Bufkin has done at Summer League defies traditional expectations. He's not only excelled, but thoroughly outplayed the competition with explosive exploits that offer a fair reminder of why the Hawks drafted him at No. 15 overall.
Even Summer League skeptics must give credit where it's due, as Bufkin has been nothing short of remarkable with the spotlight on him.
Kobe Bufkin has dominated Summer League for the Hawks
Bufkin began Summer League by scoring 29 points, albeit while shooting inefficiently at 6-of-16 from the field. He was just 3-of-17 the next time around, but dished out nine assists and pulled down six rebounds in a welcome display of his willingness to contribute in other areas when his shot isn't falling.
During his third showing, Bufkin posted 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, grabbing another six rebounds and adding three assists, two steals, and a block.
Each performance epitomized where Bufkin is today—and why a consistent role in the rotation is worth considering. He's an explosive scoring threat who can get to his spots and convert at all three levels, but he's also a player whose shot selection and decision-making could stand to improve.
That may not be purely positive feedback, but at 21 years of age, he's already putting the pieces together—and should receive an opportunity to learn by fire in the NBA.
Bufkin does an solid job of using his body to create space, find the ideal driving lane, and even position himself for a more efficient look inside. He needs to be more decisive once he gets there, but that's an advanced skill for a player his age.
It's also a promising sign that a player who'd been sidelined since December after undergoing shoulder surgery is viewing Summer League as the essential assignment it is.
Bufkin didn't show up with the intention of going through the motions and expecting a shot at the rotation to arrive via training camp. He's playing with an aggressive mentality whenever he's on the court and proving to have the qualities of a potentially valuable contributor off the bench.
It may be easy to write Summer League showings off as irrelevant to a player's place in a rotation, but Bufkin has at least earned a close look for an increased role in 2025-26.