Bob Kauffman

Bob Kauffman was born in Brooklyn, NY, July 13, 1946, and joined the Buffalo Braves in 1970 after spending single seasons with Seattle and Chicago. Kauffman was one of the Braves first transactions when they grabbed Bailey Howell during the expansion draft and immediately traded him for Kauffman.

Bob played four seasons with the Braves and averaged 15.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists over 306 games. Kauffman averaged over 35 minutes per game in his first three seasons before his role was diminished during his final year in a Braves uniform. During those first three seasons, the Guilford College All-American averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game producing season long double-double averages those first three seasons, as he became the first true star to wear a Braves jersey.

Kauffman had some spectacular moments representing Buffalo. He tallied 35 points in the Braves first win against a non-expansion NBA team (Atlanta Hawks). His best game came in January of 1971 when the 6-8 Kauffman posted 44 points against Kareem Abdul Jabbar and the Milwaukee Bucks.
A three-time all-star for Buffalo, Kauffman’s tenure in Buffalo ended when he was selected by the New Orleans Jazz in the 1974 NBA expansion draft.

He played one more season before embarking on an administrative and coaching career in the NBA. He passed away at the age of 69.

Bob is the third former Braves player (Randy Smith and Bob McAdoo), and the first since 1995, to be inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.