The time has also come for Buddy Hield to take stock of a slightly crazy season. After finishing last season in Philadelphia, the Bahamas sniper has just completed his first year as a Warriors player. Over the months, the winger was more and more comfortable, until the arrival of Jimmy Butler did not change the dynamics of the team, with the high point of the playoffs where he was important, both in attack … as in defense!
Among the “Role Players” who held their rank alongside the Curry-Butler-Green trio, Buddy Hield took advantage of his end-of-season interview to declare his love to the Warriors. For him, this season was simply the best in his career, with an adventure worthy of the name in the playoffs for the first time.
“I have never been so happy to play basketball, and that's what I say to the guys: this season has passed so quickly thanks to the pleasure I took. There was a lot of joy to be alongside Steve Kerr and this group, surrounded by the players and the staff. Everyone made me feel at home ”, he said. “Most of the teams I played, I felt like it was very long, to ask myself when I was going to leave from there. And there it happened so quickly. In this franchise, I never had this feeling for one day, to say to myself: 'I can't wait for summer to happen'. There, I am almost crazy to have to enjoy my summer, because I had so much pleasure in playing. It was so fun to play matches that plan, to prepare every day for the playoff match. And I really liked to be here ”.
A future that he only sees Golden State
Buddy Hield also returned at the time that tipped the season on the right side, when Jimmy Butler settled in Oakland three months ago. Who knows what the Warriors could have targeted if the injuries had not disabled the team at the end, with the glitch to the thigh of Stephen Curry who precipitated the fall of the group …
“It was very easy to add Jimmy, because he is a real basketball player. He knows what to do to win. He connects the two sides of the field and the group outside, he knows perfectly the cogs of the NBA ”,, he recalled. “What precipitated our fall from what we considered for this year was health. We will never know what could have happened if the number 30 had remained on the ground. I like our chances when it is there. Sometimes injuries are part of the game. What he does for this team is huge. In Game 1, when it is on the ground, it changes a lot for us. Jimmy was of a great contribution. There is no need to know himself much with him, because he already knows the game, he understands people and understands us as a basketball player. With Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, they complement each other really well ”.
There remains the question that will arise for him during the summer: will Buddy Hield still be a warrior next season? At 32, the shooter still has two years of guaranteed contract to just over $ 9 million in the season, and even a “Player option” at 10.1 million dollars for 2027/28. As he explains well, his profile means that his rating remains interesting in the NBA if Golden State wanted to part with it. Even if the interested party clearly wants to stay.
“To be honest, we see the value of” spacing “for this team, there can not be that Stephen Curry. We saw how Minnesota defended me when he was not there. The value of “spacing” and outdoor shooting is really important in this league and for this team. So I want to be here forever, until you no longer need me ”he launched. “I also know that it is a business, but I like to be here (…) I feel like I had a good relationship with everyone. I like to be surrounded by these players, and I am sure that the opposite is reciprocal. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but my wish is to stay here. »»
| Buddy Hield | Percentage | Rebound | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | Lf | Off | Def | Early | PD | Fte | Int | COP | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 * | All Teams | 82 | 23 | 42.6 | 39.1 | 84.2 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 10.6 |
| 2016-17 * | Nop | 57 | 20 | 39.3 | 36.9 | 87.9 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 8.6 |
| 2016-17 * | BAG | 25 | 29 | 48.0 | 42.8 | 81.4 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 15.1 |
| 2017-18 | BAG | 80 | 25 | 44.6 | 43.1 | 87.7 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 13.5 |
| 2018-19 | BAG | 82 | 32 | 45.8 | 42.7 | 88.6 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 20.7 |
| 2019-20 | BAG | 72 | 31 | 42.9 | 39.4 | 84.6 | 0.8 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 19.2 |
| 2020-21 | BAG | 71 | 34 | 40.6 | 39.1 | 84.6 | 0.4 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 16.6 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 81 | 31 | 40.6 | 36.6 | 87.4 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 15.6 |
| 2021-22 * | BAG | 55 | 29 | 38.2 | 36.8 | 87.0 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 14.4 |
| 2021-22 * | Ind | 26 | 36 | 44.7 | 36.2 | 88.6 | 0.9 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 18.2 |
| 2022-23 | Ind | 80 | 31 | 45.8 | 42.5 | 82.2 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 16.8 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 84 | 26 | 43.6 | 38.6 | 88.1 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 12.1 |
| 2023-24 * | Ind | 52 | 26 | 44.3 | 38.4 | 84.8 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 12.0 |
| 2023-24 * | Phl | 32 | 26 | 42.6 | 38.9 | 92.3 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| 2024-25 | Gos | 82 | 23 | 41.7 | 37.0 | 82.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 11.1 |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; Off = offensive rebound; Def = defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; Pts = points.
