The New Orleans Pelicans announced a one-year training-camp contract for Kobe Bufkin, a former first-round selection who spent the past three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers. The deal gives the club a low-risk opportunity to evaluate a player who has shown flashes of the scoring ability that made him a mid-first-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Bufkin’s recent Summer League work in Las Vegas forms the backbone of the Pelicans’ interest. Over three games he posted a 21.3-point average, added 5.3 rebounds, three assists and two steals per contest. His most memorable outing came against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he poured in 30 points on 8-for-16 shooting, including 5-for-9 from beyond the arc, while also collecting six rebounds. Those numbers illustrate a capacity to generate offense efficiently and to contribute on the glass.
Before his Summer League breakout, Bufkin earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors, posting averages of 25.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals. He also saw a brief stint with the Lakers, appearing in 16 games after being signed for the remainder of their season. That experience gave him a taste of NBA competition and highlighted the injury challenges that limited his early career to just 27 games across his first two years.
The Pelicans have a clear need for a versatile wing scorer to complement the talents of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Bufkin’s ability to knock down catch-and-shoot threes and finish at the rim aligns with coach Willie Green’s spacing-heavy system, while his rebounding instincts add modest defensive upside. His exposure to NBA defensive schemes with Atlanta and Los Angeles could accelerate his learning curve if he earns minutes off the bench.
As training camp approaches, Bufkin will compete for a roster spot and may be considered for a two-way contract that would split his time between the NBA squad and the G League affiliate. Even if he does not make the final roster, his Summer League performance positions him as a viable candidate for continued development in the G League or as a call-up for teams monitoring his progress.
