Buckner's first professional experience came with the Grand Rapids Hoops of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), where he averaged 8.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in the 1998–99 season.

[1] During his time with the Clemson Tigers, he started all 122 games of his career while guiding the team to three NCAA tournaments.

In 2006, he re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks, but after one season,[4][5] he was traded to the Timberwolves for Trenton Hassell on September 28, 2007.

[6] On June 27, 2008, the Timberwolves traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies with O. J. Mayo, Marko Jarić, and Antoine Walker for Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins.

[9][10] On July 29, 2011, he joined the Houston Rockets as a player development coach,[11] serving for five seasons.