The Lakers announced they have officially signed two-way guard Kobe Bufkin to a standard NBA contract on Sunday. Bufkin becomes their 15th and final roster spot.
It was first reported on Saturday, after the Lakers’ 105-99 win over the Golden State Warriors, that the deal for the 21-year-old was a two-year standard NBA contract with a team option in 2026-27. But the team has not disclosed the length and amount.
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Bufkin has emerged as the G League’s highest scorer this season with the Lakers’ South Bay affiliate, averaging 26.7 points while shooting 51.3% from the field and 43% from three in 26 games, with 15 outings of at least 20 points.
The 6-foot-4 guard and former Michigan standout was the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by Atlanta and is coming off a dominant stretch that included a career-high 41-point performance on Wednesday against the Capital City Go-Go. He scored 30 points in the first half while starting 7-for-7 from deep after opening his previous game 6-for-6 from three.
Bufkin is a new 3-and-D piece that adds a perimeter scoring option off the bench for head coach JJ Redick, strengthening a Lakers roster that recently added sharpshooter Luke Kennard at the trade deadline.
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He has appeared in four games with the Lakers this season after the team signed him to a 10-day contract, averaging 3.0 points in 11.3 minutes.
The Lakers now have the highest scorer in the NBA in Luka Dončić and the highest scorer in the G-League in Bufkin.