What does a former first round pick need to earn an LA call-up

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers they currently have one open roster spot, but due to the salary cap under the first apron, they can add a 15th player by mid-January if they choose to. Search social media and you’ll see plenty of Lakers fans clamoring for the team to call up Kobe Bufkin who is in G League currently plays for South Bay.

A former first round pick who wants to return to the NBA, Kobe Bufkin certainly had some high offensive outings playing in the G League with South Bay this season. But the goal alone won’t get him back into the league and potentially onto the Lakers’ roster.

During South Bay’s Jan. 3 win against the Memphis Hustle, Bufkin showed yes can have an impact defensive player. So much so that South Bay head coach Zach Guthrie had to joke about it.

“He made a lot of strides … I was kidding him at the end of the last game, like he was talking to himself about what he can do on the defensive end of the floor,” Guthrie said after South Bay’s Jan. 7 win against the Hustle. .pressed the basketball, got some steals and rebounds.”

Bufkin already had a short call this season due to a tough 10-day deal with the Memphis Grizzlies due to injury issues. In the end, he was released in favor of Christian Kolok. Bufkin did not appear in the game with the Grizzlies, and returned to South Bay.

During his time in the G League this season, he appeared in a total of 12 games with South Bay. He averaged 26.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 53 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from the 3-point line. He already had two 40+ point games. But as good as he was offensively, that’s not exactly what NBA teams are looking for.

“He knows his path to the NBA is on the defensive end of the floor, while also improving his efficiency and playmaking,” Guthrie said.

Earlier this season, Bufkin admitted that in order to succeed in the NBAplayers had to find what they were good at and perfect it. As he continued to get reps with South Bay, he focused that effort on the defensive side of the field.

“Just getting reps, reps brings confidence,” Bufkin said after South Bay’s win against the Hustle on Jan. 6. “It’s just knowing what to do in certain situations. I think I’m just improving in knowledge and my IQ defensively.”

Even if the Lakers decide to use their No. 15 roster spot in a different way, they could potentially keep Bufkin on the roster via a two-way deal. They currently have all three two-way spots filled at this point, however, with Chris Mannion, Drew Timm and Nick Smith Jr. They would either have to release one of them, or convert one to a standard contract.

In any case, as the Grizzlies’ call-up showed, NBA teams are monitoring Bufkin’s progress. If not with the Lakers, it probably won’t be long before he finds himself on an NBA roster.