Buddy Hield poses after being drafted sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Mike Stobe/Getty Images/AFP
Buddy Hield, the sixth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, is excited to pair up with Anthony Davis at New Orleans.
“I’m really excited playing with him. He’s a special talent, he’s an All-Star player, and a top five player in the league,” said the 22-year-old guard from the Bahamas through Cisco Telepresence on Friday.
In an era where one-and-done collegiate players have taken over, Hield emerges as an exception.
Steering Oklahoma to the 2016 NCAA Final Four, he has proven himself as a capable scorer through his four years for the Sooners.
And that the decision to stay long in the pros may have been one of the best career decisions the 6-foot-5 playmaker has made.
“I think if I have gone to the pros early, I might have not even be picked,” Hield reflected, deciding to return to school after earlier declaring for the NBA Draft last year. “Being here enjoying the experience really helped me out on getting better as an individual, as a player, and as a person. Staying back really helped me a lot.”
Now, he believes he’s in a better position to compete and show his wares on the professional ranks as he hopes to help the Pelicans get back to the playoffs.
“I’m just happy to be here, spread the floor for him, and go out there and follow the lead. Hopefully, I could help them get to the playoffs again,” he said.
Hield knows that he made the right decision then, and he is hell-bent to prove that New Orleans made the best decision in selecting him now.
“I’m always confident with my game,” he said. They needed someone who can help Anthony Davis out and I’m the guy.”