He has also played professionally for the Hawks' NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.

Bufkin played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines where he was a 2023 third team All Big Ten selection as a sophomore.

[8] As a sophomore, Bufkin averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game, helping his team achieve a 16–6 record.

[10] Bufkin was among several elite recruits (along with Emoni Bates, Caleb Furst and others) on hand at the Breslin Student Events Center on February 15, 2020, when Michigan State hosted Maryland and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the national championship season of the 1999–2000 Michigan State Spartans.

[13] In his junior season, he averaged 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game, leading his team to a 20–2 record.

[15] Following the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States-related premature conclusion of the season in which Bufkin's Grand Rapids Christian finished with a 20–2 record, Bufkin listed Michigan State, Michigan, DePaul, LSU and Ohio State as his final five on July 7.

[20] A week before his injury, Bufkin had been ranked as the number 2 (Pierre Brooks II, #1) player in the state of Michigan by the Detroit Free Press.

[23] Diabaté, Houstan and Bufkin, were the University of Michigan's first McDonald's All-Americans since Daniel Horton in 2002.

[30] He was drawn to Michigan by assistant coach Saddi Washington who was retained when Juwan Howard took over from John Beilein.

The individual player rankings at the time of signing were Houstan at 8, Diabaté at 20, Frankie Collins at 59, Bufkin at 63, Isaiah Barnes at 114 and Will Tschetter at 155.

[35] In fact, he led the team with 34 minutes played per game and posted averages of 14 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

[52][53] On March 14, Michigan began their participation in the 2023 National Invitation Tournament with a 90–80 victory over Toledo in the first round.

[61] Bufkin played for Atlanta in the 2023 NBA Summer League in the unfamiliar role as point guard.

[64] In the 99–98 July 13 Summer League win against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bufkin had 7 assists and hit the game-winning shot with 12.6 seconds remaining.

[67] Bufkin debuted on October 29 in Atlanta's third game (but first win) of the season against the Milwaukee Bucks playing 3 minutes and 14 seconds and making 1 of 2 free throws to score his first NBA point; He was 0 of 2 from the field.

[70] When Bufkin's thumb healed, he was assigned to the Hawks' NBA G-League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks and posted performances of 34, 29, 33 and 27 points in his first four games for them.

[73] When 2024 NBA All-Star Trae Young required surgery on a ligament of a finger on his left hand in late February 2024, Bufkin was thrust into the main rotation.

[74] At the time of the Young's injury, the Hawks had exceeded Trent Forrest's two-way contract eligibility limits and had to cut Patty Mills to make roster space.

[76] On March 7, he was diagnosed with a left big toe sprain that required 10 days of immobilization before re-evaluation.

[83] Bufkin played in 10 games for Atlanta in the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.