Michigan Basketball Star Kobe Bufkin Declares for the 2023 NBA Draft
Former Michigan Wolverine Kobe Bufkin has officially decided to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft. The announcement was not surprising as the guard is coming off a breakout sophomore season. He’ll be entering a crowded draft field, hoping to go in the first round.
Below we will break down Bufkin’s career at Michigan, explore his draft prospects, and discuss how to bet on the NBA Draft. While Bufkin likely won’t be involved in any future bets, there are plenty of sportsbooks with exciting options available.
Kobe Bufkin’s Career at Michigan
The Wolverines underperformed this season, but it didn’t stop Kobe Bufkin from making a name for himself. The sophomore struggled to get time on the floor in his first year but averaged 34 minutes this season. Bufkin responded to the increase in minutes by finishing third on the team in scoring (14.0 PPG) and rebounds (4.5 RPG) and leading the team in steals (1.3 SPG).
Bufkin grew as a player as the season went on. He finished the season by playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 17.7 points and 5.8 rebounds over the Wolverines’ final ten regular season games. The guard was also fantastic in his lone NIT game, finishing with 23 points and making 61.5% of his shots.
While Bufkin’s career at Michigan was strong, there are questions about how his game will translate to the NBA. He’s unlikely to be a top-ten pick, but he’ll have the chance to improve his draft stock over the next few months.
Kobe Bufkin’s 2023 NBA Draft Prospects
As of now, NBA scouts are projecting Kobe Bufkin to be picked late in the first round. A big reason for his projection is his ability to play on both ends of the court. The guard is a fantastic defender and passer that is dangerous in transition. The ability to generate turnovers and find the open man on the fast break jumps out to NBA scouts.
Bufkin’s rebounding has been good in college, but at 6’4″, there are concerns that will not translate to the NBA. While that isn’t a guard’s primary responsibility, it was a big part of his success at Michigan.
The biggest question regarding Kobe Bufkin is his ability to shoot. He was vastly improved this season, making 48.2% of his shots from the field and 35.5% from three. Those numbers are impressive, but the sample size is too small. Scouts will watch that closely as he works out for teams this spring.
We expect Bufkin to be drafted somewhere between the 22nd and 29th pick this season. While it’s far from being a lottery pick, being drafted late will mean he will land with a contender. We like the Kings and Grizzlies as the favorites to land the guard.
Betting on the 2023 NBA Draft
NBA Betting has exploded in popularity as sports betting continues to grow in the US. While betting on NBA games is common, this is the time of year to place your NBA Draft Future bets. Sportsbooks have their future bets available, with options to bet on the Draft Lottery, the first three overall selections, and more that will be released as the draft approaches.
It seems like Victor Wembanyama is locked in for the first pick, but the next two picks will be a toss-up until the draft lottery is completed. We recommend making your picks before the Lottery, as odds will adjust once the order is official.
