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What to Expect: Buddy Hield

One of the NBA’s most exciting rookie prospects, Buddy Hield, is Sacramento-bound following Monday’s trade.

Hield, 23, is best known for quick release and knockdown three-point shooting, turning heads during his senior year at Oklahoma, where he averaged 25 points per contest.

In his final season with the Sooners, the 6-foot-4 guard totaled a dozen 30-point outings and 14 games with five or more threes. Additionally, Hield had one of college basketball’s most efficient scoring seasons in recent memory, shooting 50 percent from the field and nearly 46 percent from long range.

In his four years at the amateur level, Hield consistently improved his scoring average each season. During his final year with the Sooners, he averaged 25 points per game. The Bahamian sharpshooter capped an impressive collegiate career as the recipient of the 2016 Naismith Trophy – an annual award given to the nation’s top college player.

“This guy is just a beast,” said Miguel Bennett, President of Basketball Operations for Open Gym Premier to SLAM Online during the 2016 offseason. “Sometimes he’ll come back to the gym and shoot even more, after he’s done three full workouts…I’ve never seen anyone work harder than Kobe. But Buddy’s close.”

Drafted sixth by the New Orleans Pelicans, Buddy was named December’s Western Conference Rookie of Month following his 10.6 point per game average. During the same time frame, he also connected on 47-plus percent of his three-point attempts.

In 20 minutes per contest, Hield is averaging nearly nine points – sixth among all rookies. When amassing 30 or more minutes, he’s tallied an average of 16 points per game.

Most recently, the rookie participated in the League’s BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend. He impressed those in attendance, scoring 28 on 11-of-22 shooting.

“Just got to keep getting better and use it as a major boost to the second half and finish out [the season] and continue to shoot the ball well,” said Hield following the Rising Stars Challenge.

He’ll have a chance to do just that while donning a Sacramento uniform come Thursday.


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