Why Hield believes the ‘fun’ Warriors fit has been successful so far originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors’ partnership with sharpshooter Buddy Hield has worked extremely well during the 2024-2025 NBA season.
Judging by Golden State’s record and roster, the nine-year veteran couldn’t be a better fit
“Fit and situation,” Hield said Tuesday of his Warriors success on “The Jim Rome Show.” “Also, getting the recognition, but also playing for a team that wants to emphasize the 3-ball, complements my movement.”
Hield surprisingly leads Golden State with 21.9 points per game. Unsurprisingly, though, his three-point shooting is elite.
Hield is shooting 50.0 percent from range on 9.4 attempts per game; his highest percentage (43.1) came during the 2017-18 season for the Sacramento Kings.
As the Warriors, 6-1, enter Wednesday’s big game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, Hield’s production is a big reason why Golden State is optimistic and competitive.
“Life has been good,” Hield said. ‘Everyone has had open arms. From Steve [Kerr] to Steph [Curry] to Draymond [Green] for the entire organization, I couldn’t be happier to be here.”
Hield’s off-ball movement and three-point ability are exactly what Golden State needed after losing veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks last season.
Kerr is especially grateful for Hield’s presence on the edge.
Hield has been doing homework for his current role for a long time, dating back to his college days.
“I’ve been watching these guys my whole career,” Hield, an Oklahoma alum, said of the Warriors. ‘At university I would go to [Warriors] play when they came into town to Oklahoma and saw them play. I’ve studied them. I always wanted to play in the kind of system they apply to the game.”
Hield was a Sooner between the 2012-13 and 2015-16 seasons. Then, fights between the Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder were common and local at Paycom Center, and Curry and Thompson’s shootings caused the game to evolve.
In fact, Hield attributed an important moment in his life to Curry’s transcendence.
“I always tell everyone, ‘If it wasn’t for Steph Curry, I probably wouldn’t have been drafted with the sixth pick for my shooting,’” Hield said. “I’m just happy to be here and I’m happy to keep building.”
The New Orleans Pelicans selected Hield No. 6 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. His NBA journey has been long and turbulent, but the Warriors fit Hield like a glove.
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