For a three-year stretch on the Buffalo Braves, before finding a home on the West Coast, big man Bob Kauffman was the face of the franchise. He developed into one of the league’s best interior talents, with three consecutive All-Star appearances. Unfortunately, injuries occurred, which everyone hates to see. From then on, Kauffman experienced an evident decline, and after being selected in the 1974 expansion draft by the Atlanta Hawks, he played 73 games and called it quits.
As a result, it’s safe to say Kauffman is arguably the worst expansion pick ever. His days just never unfolded the way he had made them seem they would, and the Hawks quickly realized, during his tenure, the mistake they made by selecting him.
Though Kauffman might be a legend in the books of the Clippers (Braves), he is the polar opposite in Atlanta.
Bob Kauffman had one of the fastest fall-offs in the history of the NBA
With Bob Kauffman, talent was never the issue. He was a stud at the college level, which led to him being drafted third overall in 1968, and in his third season in the NBA, he already lived up to the hype.
In fact, Kauffman was a double-double machine, averaging over 17 points and ten boards for the Buffalo Braves for three years in a row. No matter what point in history one might look at, these numbers are extremely impressive. So, of course, the league recognized him for it.
Kauffman also did it while playing a ridiculous number of minutes. This is worth noting, as it indicates he prospered despite the physical and mental toll the sport took on his body.
All things considered, the Atlanta Hawks had the right ideology in taking him. They thought they were getting a stud who would evolve into a superstar, and remain at that level throughout the 1970’s.
However, Kauffman had a hard time dealing with health concerns in his hip and groin. These did not go away, even though he may have tried hard to find a solution, and it was clear as day on the stat sheet.
In the 1974-75 season, his first with the Hawks and last as a professional, Kauffman played only 10.9 minutes and averaged 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds.
This looks completely different from the player Kauffman was with the Braves. Ultimately, it shows that the simplest way to describe him in the expansion draft is as a bust.