Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield
Jmnutt · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Buddy Hield
Position	Shooting guard / Small forward
Weight lb	220
League	National Basketball Association
Team	Indiana Pacers
Number	24
Birth date	November 17, 1992
Birth place	Freeport, Bahamas
College	Oklahoma (2012–2016)
Draft	2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
Draft team	New Orleans Pelicans
Career start	2016
Years	2016–2017: New Orleans Pelicans 2017–2019: Sacramento Kings 2019–2022: Indiana Pacers 2022–2023: Los Angeles Lakers 2023–present: Indiana Pacers

Buddy Hield

Andrew "Buddy" Hield is a Bahamian professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A prolific three-point shooter, he rose from Freeport, Bahamas to prominence at Oklahoma before being selected sixth overall in the 2016 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. Hield's career includes All-Star consideration, a NCAA scoring title, and roles with the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Early life and high school

Born in Freeport, Bahamas, Hield grew up in a family with deep ties to Grand Bahama Island and attended local schools before moving to the United States for prep basketball. He played high school basketball at Carver High School and later at Oklahoma Christian School (note: prep routes varied), where he competed in regional tournaments against teams from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. During this period he attracted attention from college recruiters at programs such as Oklahoma, Kansas State, Xavier, and Indiana for his shooting and athleticism.

College career

Hield enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and played four seasons (2012–2016) for the Oklahoma Sooners under coach Lon Kruger. He developed into a high-volume perimeter scorer, earning All-Big 12 honors and national recognition. In his senior year Hield won the Naismith College Player of the Year award finalists consideration and captured the Big 12 scoring title while leading the NCAA in scoring, edging players from programs such as Duke, Kentucky, and Villanova. He also recorded standout performances against opponents including Texas, Kansas, and West Virginia, prompting comparisons to college greats like Oscar Robertson and Stephen Curry for shotmaking instincts.

Professional career

After being selected sixth overall in the 2016 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, Hield was traded on draft night to the Oklahoma City Thunder and then to the Sacramento Kings in a multi-team trade involving players and picks tied to franchises such as the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and Philadelphia 76ers. In Sacramento he emerged as a primary perimeter threat, setting franchise records and joining a rotation that included DeMarcus Cousins, Demarcus Cousins (note: teammate overlap), and later teammates like De'Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanović. In 2019 Hield was traded to the Indiana Pacers in a deal connected to the NBA trade deadline and roster moves involving Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis; with the Pacers he continued to rank among league leaders in three-point field goals made alongside sharpshooters such as Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard.

In 2022 Hield signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, joining a roster featuring LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and later veterans like Russell Westbrook. He provided floor spacing on playoff pushes and regular-season rotations before returning to the Indiana Pacers via trade in 2023, contributing experienced shooting depth behind guards including Tyrese Haliburton and wings like Myles Turner.

Player profile and playing style

Hield is primarily known for elite catch-and-shoot ability from beyond the arc and off-ball movement, drawing stylistic comparisons to NBA shooters such as Kyle Korver, Joe Harris, and J.J. Redick. Off screens he uses a compact release and quick footwork to get high-volume three-point attempts, while his mid-range game and ability to finish through contact mirror elements of Reggie Miller and Ray Allen. Defensively he has been described as average to below-average, often matched against primary scorers from teams like Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics. Hield's work ethic and conditioning were shaped by international competitions and summer leagues involving players from Spain national basketball team, Lithuania men's national basketball team, and various FIBA invitational events.

Personal life

Hield maintains strong connections to the Bahamas, supporting youth sports programs and participating in charitable initiatives tied to organizations in Nassau, Bahamas and Freeport. He has family ties that trace to communities on Grand Bahama Island and has been involved in philanthropy similar to initiatives led by NBA players like Chris Paul and LeBron James. Off the court Hield enjoys music, Caribbean cuisine, and following international soccer clubs such as Manchester United F.C. and Real Madrid CF.

Career statistics and achievements

During his collegiate career Hield led the NCAA in scoring (2015–16) and earned multiple All-Big 12 selections, joining Oklahoma alumni such as Blake Griffin and Buddy Hield's contemporaries in the school's record books. In the NBA he has ranked among league leaders in three-pointers made per season, appearing in milestone lists alongside shooters like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, James Harden, and Damian Lillard. Hield has recorded seasons with over 200 made three-pointers and career-high scoring outputs in contests versus teams such as the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers. Honors include Big 12 Player of the Year recognition, NCAA scoring leader, and franchise single-season three-point records with the Sacramento Kings.

Category:1992 births Category:Bahamian basketball players Category:Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball players Category:National Basketball Association players