Atlanta Hawks' Kobe Bufkin Out for Season Due to Shoulder Surgery

The second-year guard will undergo surgery in January to address recurring shoulder instability, marking another injury setback in his young NBA career.

Kobe Bufkin, the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season due to right shoulder surgery scheduled for January 7, 2025.
The surgery follows repeated shoulder injuries, including two partial dislocations this year, and continued instability despite medical evaluations and rehabilitation efforts.
Bufkin's NBA career has been plagued by injuries, limiting him to just 27 games over two seasons, including thumb and toe injuries during his rookie year.
In his 10 appearances this season, Bufkin averaged 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 11.9 minutes per game as a reserve guard for the Hawks.
The Hawks, currently seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, may apply for a disabled player exception to fill Bufkin's roster spot for the remainder of the season.