Atlanta Hawks’ Kobe Bufkin After Summer League Win Over Heat

Atlanta Hawks’ Kobe Bufkin After Summer League Win Over Heat

Kobe, just like thinking about, you know, one year ago not being able to to play tonight because of the shoulder that you come off and have the summer league opener that you did. Just what felt good about today? Just really the team. Um, I feel like offensively we look pretty well. Um, and normally that’s not normal coming out in summer. Usually there’s a lot of turnovers and stuff, but with the fast offense that we play, I feel like we we maintained it well and it was successful. I mean, you were kind of like the connective tissue, if you will, like having things go so well in this summer week. What did you kind of work on this summer, especially leadership wise? I mean, communication, just how to kind of be a forager. Yeah, I think just being around um I was hurt, but I was paying attention a lot, watching a lot of film. Um, breaking down each game that that Hawks played, the big dogs played, so I understand the system through and through, I feel like. So, um, just being able to pour my knowledge in when I can and the coaches need me. Um, I think that’s a big reason why we’ve been able to push each other. And this was kind of like one of those up and down games. You guys were up 12, were down 13, and then to come back and win the way that you guys did. What does it say about your ability to organize everybody and kind of get everybody defensively doing what needs to be done? Just resilience. Um, being able to play through anything. um something that the big dogs are trying to adopt right now. Um I think we we’ve got it already. So um us as young young players to come and bring that energy up there and that’s that’s be successful. So us being able to do that was good. Did something change for you specifically in that fourth quarter where you were like we we’re going to win this. I got to turn this on. Like Yeah, my win. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe that first that first half. Um but my second win kicked in the second half. So when you play with those stripes and everybody watching lights on is a little bit different. So um yeah, just a second one. Is there is there any rust? Does that have to do with just how long it’s been just playing the game like that? I mean it could be the injury. It’s it’s nothing it’s nothing like playing real fast. There’s nothing like it. So u like I said just just knocked it off the bus and um I knocked it off at the right time. I know it’s some relief, but does it feel like maybe there’s some relief that you’re able to go out there and finally play the way that you know you can? Yeah, for sure. Um, just being confident in my body. Um, not having to worry about my shoulders or anything else on my body is has been good. What did you kind of do like strengthwise trying to build some of that strength? Just a lot of upper body stuff. Um, curls, anything, push-ups, anything. Um, that that’s allowed me to get my upper body stronger. Know you’re always improving your game. What from this game would you want to improve upon? I would like to shoot the ball a little bit better, but um other than that, I feel like I played a pretty allaround day. Um communicated well defensively. I feel like the team played well enough that we did pretty good. When you took that charge within that fourth quarter, just maybe what sort of went through your mind to kind of energize the rest of the guys on I had a good feeling we was going to win after that. Just it’s an energy play. Yeah, all plays are different, but plays like that make a difference just as far as energy and my running. That felt good. And what was it like seeing your teammates here? Like half the team was here just courtside. Did you step on somebody’s shoes? I stepped on JJ’s all all white Air Force. He all right. He’s got contract extension. He he can buy a few more. So he’ll be okay. But it was good to see them course side all them showing support. And Bruno too. Bruno, right? Bruno is my dog. Bruno is still my go. I think we’re going to the um the MVPA thing. Oh, cool. And in Europe. So, I think you’ll be there. I’m going. So, that’s cool.

Kobe Bufkin finished with 29 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in the win.