It didn’t take long for Buddy Hield to make a name for himself at the University of Oklahoma after being named a full-time starter.
In his sophomore season, Hield averaged 16.5 PPG on .445/.386/.750 shooting splits, capping off an impressive collegiate career averaging 25.0 PPG on .501/.457/.880 shooting splits (and earning the nickname Buddy Buckets). His senior campaign skyrocketed his draft stock, where the New Orleans Pelicans selected him sixth overall to be Anthony Davis’ running mate. The marriage only lasted 57 games, when the Pelicans made a blockbuster trade for DeMarcus Cousins that sent Hield to Sacramento.
At the time, the headliner was DeMarcus Cousins – a player who was capable of putting up big numbers but didn’t seem to have much of an impact on his team winning. Seeing his fit next to a generational talent in Anthony Davis was League Pass material.
That didn’t phase Vivek Ranadive, who called him the next Steph Curry.
Ranadive may have been on to something.
This season, Buddy Hield is averaging 20.3 PPG on .481/.457/.864 shooting splits. His 45.7% from beyond the arc is on 7.4 3PA per contest, and his 20.3 PPG makes him the leading scorer in Sacramento.
Oh, and there’s this interesting tidbit of information from just a few days ago (click on the picture if you don’t believe the claim):
Now, is Buddy Hield the next Steph Curry?
No.
Steph Curry is the greatest shooter in NBA history. There are shades of Curry in Hield’s game, but Hield will likely not win a (unanimous) MVP award in his career, nor team up with multiple All-Stars unless he leaves Sacramento.
With that being said, Hield has been exactly what Sacramento has needed.
De’Aaron Fox is having a breakout sophomore campaign. Now, with Hield improving every season since entering the league in ’16, it appears that the Kings have found their backcourt of the future.
It remains to be seen who’ll comprise their frontcourt of the future, but that’s a topic for a different day.
But here’s a secret for you. The Kings don’t need Hield to become an elite defender/two-way player to make the playoffs and/or win a championship.
When Buddy Hield was drafted by the Pelicans, they weren’t drafting him for his elite defensive ability. They had a hole in their starting lineup at the 2. This is when they were still trying to play Jrue Holiday at the 1. What they needed was a scoring punch. Hield wasn’t a black hole on defense, but that wasn’t his calling card. His calling card is offense.
Exhibit A
If Hield even becomes an average defender at his position, the Kings will be thrilled. They’re giving up 115.2 PPG to opponents, ranking 27th in the league.
Luckily for Hield, his job is to get buckets, and that he can do.