Kobe Bufkin will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season, in response to the Hawks, who announced on Wednesday in a press launch that the second-year guard will endure surgical procedure to handle proper shoulder instability.
The surgical procedure, which was decided to be the best choice for Bufkin after “continued analysis and extra medical opinions,” will happen on Jan. 7. He’s anticipated to recuperate in time for the beginning of the 2025-26 season.
The fifteenth general choose within the 2023 draft, Bufkin was restricted to 17 NBA appearances in his rookie yr, having missed a big chunk of the 2023-24 marketing campaign on account of a fractured left thumb and a sprained toe.
He additionally suited up for 14 video games within the G League final season, averaging 23.6 factors, 5.9 assists and 5.4 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per contest for the Faculty Park Skyhawks, with a taking pictures line of .444/.356/.829.
Bufkin suffered a proper shoulder subluxation (i.e., a partial dislocation) throughout a Summer season League observe this previous July, then suffered the identical harm in observe simply earlier than the common season started. He made his season debut on Nov. 18 and appeared in 10 video games this fall, however that shoulder was by no means 100%, so he and the workforce have determined to take the surgical route to handle it.
Bufkin could have one other misplaced season. He has averaged 5.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG and 1.6 APG on .374/.220/.654 taking pictures in 27 NBA outings (11.9 MPG). Hopefully, the surgical procedure will clear up any lingering points with the shoulder and permit him to start his third NBA season totally wholesome.
Bufkin is underneath contract for $4.3M this season and $4.5M in 2025-26. The Hawks should determine by Oct. 31, 2025, on his $6.9M fourth-year choice for the ’26-27 season.
Atlanta could have the power to use for a disabled player exception because of Bufkin’s season-ending harm. It will be value half his wage (roughly $2.15M) and permit the membership to signal a free agent to a rest-of-season contract or purchase a participant on an expiring deal through commerce or waiver declare.