Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James has received new competition for minutes after the franchise signed G League star Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract. It's a move that could ultimately prove inconsequential, but Bufkin is a former first-round pick who has dominated for Los Angeles' G League affiliate.
In a sudden turn of events, James has gone from sitting on a hot seat to having having to fight for already scarce minutes during his second NBA season.
The Atlanta Hawks selected Bufkin at No. 15 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, but a shoulder injury ended his sophomore season prematurely and signaled the beginning of the end. Bufkin was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, but even with a strong Summer League behind him, was ultimately let go.
Bufkin has since been dominating the G League with the South Bay Lakers, thus earning a 10-day contract with Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Lakers are signing guard Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract, sources tell ESPN. Bufkin has starred for the Lakers' South Bay NBA G League affiliate and spent some time with the Grizzlies this season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2026
Perhaps it will prove insignificant in the long run, but James has new competition for minutes for at least the next 10 days.
Bronny James faces new hurdle after Lakers sign Kobe Bufkin
The Lakers selected James late in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. As such, expectations should've been tempered given the unfortunate fact that most players who are drafted in a similar range never carve out a consistent role in the Association.
Whether fair or foul, the truth remains that James' familial ties have created massive expectations in the basketball community.
Pushing past the factors that don't actually dictate a player's quality, James has struggled to consistently crack the rotation. He appeared in 27 games and averaged 6.7 minutes per appearance as a rookie, and while he's already played 20 in 2025-26, his playing time is up only slightly to 7.5 minutes per contest.
Even with Gabe Vincent missing 20 games and Austin Reaves absent from 14 and counting, James has been unable to establish himself as a player with nightly value.
That's opened the door for Nick Smith Jr. to nearly double James in minutes per game at 14.9. If Bufkin even comes close to tapping into his potential, then it's fair to question if James will be able to receive any playing time at all.
It's entirely possible that Bufkin will play his 10 days with the Lakers and head back to the G League, but the pressure on James has reached a new level as his role and playing time are suddenly at risk.