Kobe Bufkin will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season, in keeping with the Hawks, who announced on Wednesday in a press launch that the second-year guard will bear surgical procedure to deal with proper shoulder instability.
The surgical procedure, which was decided to be the most suitable choice for Bufkin after “continued analysis and extra medical opinions,” will happen on Jan. 7. He’s anticipated to get well 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 12 months, having missed a big chunk of the 2023-24 marketing campaign as a result 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 capturing line of .444/.356/.829.
Bufkin suffered a proper shoulder subluxation (i.e., a partial dislocation) throughout a Summer season League apply this previous July, then suffered the identical damage in apply 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 crew have determined to take the surgical route to deal with it.
Bufkin can have one other misplaced season. He has averaged 5.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG and 1.6 APG on .374/.220/.654 capturing 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 absolutely wholesome.
Bufkin is beneath contract for $4.3M this season and $4.5M in 2025-26. The Hawks should resolve by Oct. 31, 2025, on his $6.9M fourth-year possibility for the ’26-27 season.
Atlanta can have the power to use for a disabled player exception on account of Bufkin’s season-ending damage. It might 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 by way of commerce or waiver declare.
