Kobe Bufkin brings a total game to Atlanta

The Hawks selected Kobe Bufkin with the No. 15 pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft, and general manager Landry Fields said one of the things they loved the most was Bufkin’s passion for the game.

“I think it got serious when one of our intelligence sources said something like, ‘There are guys who love the game, and then there are guys who are in love with the game.’ This is a guy who is in love with the game.”

The 6-foot-6 guard played two seasons at the University of Michigan, where he averaged 14.0 points per game in his sophomore season while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three. Like John Collins six years ago, Bufkin is a young player despite having two seasons of college experience; he’ll turn 20 just as training camp opens in late September, just as Collins did.

The two things the Hawks like most are that Bufkin has a versatile game that works at multiple levels with few weaknesses, and that his progression at Michigan continued to rise.

“When we talked to him in Chicago, that was another huge moment for me,” Fields said. “He’s just very mature in the way he sees the game: the feel, the IQ, the confidence he has as well. He’s just a very fluid type of player. He can play on the ball and off the ball. He defends. , and that’s a big thing for us too. He’s young and still growing and getting better.”

Bufkin himself gave himself a similar assessment.

“I think my skill set is pretty comprehensive,” he said. “I can improve in many areas, but it’s not really lacking much.”

When asked about comparing himself to current NBA players, Bufkin said there is one player he is often compared to: D’Angelo Russell.

“I think it’s just because I’m a left-handed player,” Bufkin added, “but I watch D-Book (Devin Booker) a lot.”

Perhaps the best example of Bufkin’s maturity is his development on the defensive end. The Hawks see him as an addition to their defense, even though his freshman season produced challenges.

“Defensively, I couldn’t guard anybody my freshman year,” Bufkin said. “I’m just going to put it this way. I ended up just focusing on my footwork and that allowed me to get on the field my sophomore year and make a big impact on defense.”

Bufkin particularly impressed Fields with his self-improvement in this area, emulating his Michigan teammates.

“He actually talked about his teammate and how he thought (that teammate) was the best defender on the team when (Bufkin) got there as a freshman. And so he ended up watching film of that teammate over and over to be more like him.”

Bufkin is eager to get to Atlanta, a city he is already familiar with because some of his aunts and uncles live here.

“I’m just looking forward to competing against Trae Young and Dejounte Murray,” he said. “They’re going to go for it. I’ve been paying attention, so I’m definitely ready to go out there and get on the field with these guys and learn.”

Bufkin also has a sense of humor about his new home.

“I probably went to Atlanta last year in the summertime. I know there’s a lot of traffic. I’m not looking forward to the traffic and the humidity and the roaches. But you know, there’s good parts to it. But roaches, roaches fly anyway. I don’t know what’s in it.”

The Grand Rapids, MI native is eager to make another trip south.

“I think the city of Atlanta as a whole is a beautiful city. I have family there that I look forward to visiting with.”

Bufkin is also getting a family on the field and should soon be able to help them out there.