Michigan Basketball: Is Kobe Bufkin leaning toward the NBA draft?
Kobe Bufkin had a breakout season for Michigan basketball this season and there are signs that he’s heading to the NBA draft.
The 2022-23 Michigan basketball season didn’t go the way that anyone expected. However, it wasn’t without positives and one of the biggest was the development of Kobe Bufkin.
The 6-foot-4 guard from Grand Rapids, who just happened to be the youngest player on the team and a former McDonalds All-American, finally looked like the player he was expected to be when he was a recruit as he averaged 14 points a game, as well as 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
His mid-range scoring ability really took a step forward this season and he started to get talked about as a first-round draft pick when the shooting and playmaking went to another level.
Another thing about Bufkin is that he turned into one of Michigan basketball’s best defenders. Most of the time, he guarded the opposing team’s best perimeter player on offense and averaged 1.3 steals as well as 0.7 blocks per game.
What will Kobe Bukfin do?
Bufkin is still raw. He averaged nearly two turnovers per game and his 35.5 3-point percentage could also improve. However, he was an 84.9 free throw shooter this season and shot 48.2 overall from the field.
True combo guards like Bufkin, who can score at all three levels and who can make an impact defensively are rare, and in my opinion, he’s a better prospect than Jett Howard.
Howard is an incredible shooter and scorer. He’s going to play in the league for a long time but I think Bufkin is going to be the more impactful player on both ends of the floor. That was certainly the case this past season.
It would be hard to blame anyone that is expected to be a first-round pick for leaving for the draft. There are injuries and other unknowns and that guaranteed contract is a big deal.
Chris Balas of The Wolverine reported that Bufkin is expected to go through the draft process and is likely to stay in the draft if he will be a first-round pick, which I’d be stunned if he wasn’t.
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Maybe an NIL deal could entice Bufkin to stay for another season with Michigan basketball, but Wolverines fans shouldn’t plan on Bufkin coming back. At least not the way it’s looking right now.