Photo: Atlanta Hawks/X

Kobe Bufkin will miss the rest of the 2024/25 season as he undergoes surgery on January 7 to address persistent right shoulder instability, the Hawks announced.

The decision followed continued evaluation and medical opinions. The Atlanta Hawks guard is expected to fully recover by the 2025/26 season.

The 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Bufkin has struggled with injuries throughout his young career.

He appeared in just 17 games as a rookie due to a fractured thumb and sprained toe and averaged 23.6 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in 14 G League games for the College Park Skyhawks.

This season, Bufkin played 10 games, averaging 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 11.9 minutes per game but dealt with recurring shoulder issues stemming from a subluxation sustained in July.

The player is under contract for $4.3M this season and $4.5M in 2025/26, with a $6.9M team option for 2026/27 due by October 2025. Atlanta can apply for a $2.15M disabled player exception to add depth during his absence.