Atlanta Hawks’ Kobe Bufkin After Summer League Win Over Rockets

Atlanta Hawks’ Kobe Bufkin After Summer League Win Over Rockets

So, just, you know, with this team and how you guys have made a sort of rally, how do you feel like your voice has kind of grown, especially as one of the longer tenure people on this summer league team? I think it’s been been good just being able to take on like kind of like a leadership role. Obviously, I’ve been here, so I know a lot of the terminology and can teach different guys different stuff. Um, I think I took advantage. And then for you to bounce back after having to impact the game in different ways because your shot maybe not fell as you wanted it to. Um but how did today feel kind of bouncing back with the shot going in a little bit? Um it felt good. Still had too many turnovers but um other than that down the stretch I feel like I found it and we were able to be successful. So I’m glad we’re able to go on a run, take it overtime and then close out overtime. Kobe, how are you able to keep that supportive mentality and keep your guys going even if your game is not going how you want it to go? Just understand it’s not always about you, it’s about the team. And um as long as we being successful, it’s okay. Um like tech fans yesterday, yesterday’s game, and I didn’t shoot the best, but Top shot well, Meek shot well, everybody else shot well, and I was able to find guys and they hit shots. So that’s what it’s all about as long as they come out with. Um, you got a bunch of fouls in the first half. Like, how do you kind of navigate I know he’s not worried about fouling out here because it’s not the same thing. Like, how do you how do you navigate that when you know what’s getting called, what’s not getting called, and how do you defend based on that? What changes happen? Yeah, you know what it is. Um, as a player, what you shouldn’t be doing. I was doing a lot of things I should have been doing. Um, as far as like reaching and being late on rotations and all that. So, um, stuff that we got to clean up and stuff that we will clean up. Uh first two games I didn’t have eight fouls. Just today I decided to be one step late. So yeah, you had the big run in the third quarter where you got kind of got your wish for kind of got going. But uh basket bigger when you start make make a couple in a row and you start feeling different. Sure. You get your rhythm and you get going. Seeing Nico kind of have that pump to kind of force those fouls and get to the free throw line. Just what does that say about his basketball team? Let me ask Can I ask you a question? Do you think that was a foul? I mean, I’m just asking. Nick, do you think Do you think that was a foul on me? Which one? The three. The three at the end. When I shot it. Oh, definitely. Definitely. Yeah. Yeah. I like it though. I mean, we got three points, so we sent to overtime. I mean, you got to do what you got to do, right? Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Kobe, were you surprised by that out of bounds shot from Houston? Which one? Oh yeah. Yeah. I was glad to have it though. I knew exactly. I know the rules now. It was our ball. So, it was okay. How much more prepared do you feel going into this year than you did coming into summer league last year and just learning the kind of things that you’re passing on to everybody else? Um, like I said, just being around the guys, um, having the terminology and the knowledge of the game, even though I didn’t get to play as much last year like I wanted to cuz injury, um, I feel like as far as terminology, knowing where people are supposed to be, I’m I’m pretty far ahead. Speaking from a a late game situation perspective, Asa getting those reps at the end, how meaningful do you think those will be for him, especially going into the It’s huge. It’s huge. There’s nothing like, you know, finishing the game. Um definitely at this level cuz everything is important. Every every aspect, whether it be a rebound or a miss shot, um steal, turnover, everything’s important. So, all these reps for all of us is good. Thanks, Kobe.