Kobe Bufkin
#18SG · Los Angeles Lakers
Height
6'4"
Weight
195 lbs
Age
22
College
Michigan
Experience
2 yrs
Wingspan
6'7.8"
Reach
8'6.5"
Hand Size
8" × 9.25"
F
F
C-
D+
N/A
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Grade Kobe Bufkin
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The Verdict on Kobe, in One Read
On the field, Kobe Bufkin grades out as a middling SG for Los Angeles Lakers (C- Impact). That places him 120th of 147 graded shooting guards. In his on-court role, the grade is shaky (D+ Role), reflecting how he produces relative to others at his position. The contract is harder to defend: the Contract Value Index calls it a significant overpay (F), with the cost outrunning the output. The public read is sharply negative (F Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Career StatsD-
| Year | Team | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 38 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 28.9% | 20.3% | 73.5% |
| 2025-26 | | 11 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
Performance Grade by Season
PeakDLongevityMid-CareerRecentD
| Season | Team | GP | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | | 11 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 28.9% | D- D- |
| 2024-25 |  | 10 | 5.3 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 38.3% | D+ D+ |
| 2023-24 | | 17 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 37.0% | D+ D+ |
Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$5.5M
Guaranteed
$3.3M
AAV
$5.5M/yr
Guaranteed %61%
Contract Value Index (CVI)
F
Overpay
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Net of age, position, and term, Kobe Bufkin's deal earns a F Contract Value Index. At $5.48M AAV on a one-year deal, the contract itself is modest, but the value proposition collapses when measured against his actual production: 3.0 PPG, 0.8 RPG, and 0.5 APG across 11 games in the 2025-26 season represents replacement-level output that fails to justify even a minimum-salary commitment, let alone a $5.48M spend on a third-year player at shooting guard. The CVI grade reflects not overpay in the traditional sense—a one-year pact offers minimal cap drag—but rather poor allocation: the Lakers are committing meaningful money to a fringe rotation piece with documented on-court struggles when that capital could fund depth with proven production. At 22 years old in his third NBA season, Bufkin occupies a precarious development timeline; the cycle of waivers and G-League assignments detailed in recent transactions signals organizational doubt rather than confidence in his trajectory, and his shooting efficiency well below league average suggests the fundamental skill gaps that created this roster limbo. The F grade is ultimately a statement that the Lakers are investing in organizational ballast masquerading as a depth guard—a cautionary tale of first-round selection value destruction, not a reclamation project with upside.
Performance Analysis
D-
#120 of 147 Shooting Guards
FCA+
Contracts in the Same Value Band
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the F band — a quick read on where Kobe's contract sits relative to comparable money.
How Kobe Compares at the Position
Kobe Bufkin ranks 120th of 147 graded shooting guards by performance. That slots Kobe between Daeqwon Plowden (D-) just ahead and Mac McClung (D-) just behind.
Graded higher
Daeqwon PlowdenSacramento KingsD-Nique CliffordSacramento KingsD-Nate WilliamsGolden State WarriorsD-Kobe BufkinD-
Graded lower
Mac McClungChicago BullsTransaction History
Los Angeles Lakers waived guard Kobe Bufkin
Los Angeles Lakers · cut · 4/10/2026
Los Angeles Lakers sign Kobe Bufkin
Los Angeles Lakers · signing · 1/13/2026
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About this player
Kobe Bufkin is a player in his 2nd NBA season listed at SG for the Los Angeles Lakers. FanVerdicts covers every NBA player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Kobe Bufkin, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index F, Performance D-, Sentiment F.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when NBA game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the NBA hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The NBA player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.