Buddy Hield is someone who has proven he can perform if given the chance. But seeing how he only averaged about 20 minutes during the NBA bubble games, his production is expectedly below normal. That was until the Kings' final game where he played 26 minutes and finished with 28 points.
Before the suspension of the NBA season during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hield was averaging roughly 30.8 minutes per game. He normed 19.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 rebounds in 72 games. This proves that given the right amount of playing time, Hield can shine. But the problem is he is playing alongside other talented names such as Cory Joseph and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
It all depends on who is playing better and who head coach Luke Walton feels deserves to be on the floor. The limited playing time could also be a way to preserve other players since Sacramento was not going to make the playoffs anyway. And as far as the playing time he got during the bubble, Hield took his sentiments to social media.
“Y’all know me,” Hield said. “Y’all know how I talk. Y’all know how I feel. Y’all can read me well, so I’ll let y’all answer that yourselves.”
But aside from that, Hield seems fully aware that this is a challenge for him to improve on other departments of his game. But the most important of them all is maintaining his focus during games and not forgetting where it all started, the Sacramento Bee reported.
“Stay locked in and focus on what I’ve got to do. Just keep remembering where I came from and what got me here and how I can stick for a long time," Hield said.
Heading towards next season, a recent development could factor in with Hield’s future. Vlade Divac has resigned from his post as executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager after failing to guide the Kings to the NBA playoffs since arriving in 2015. Joe Dumars, who initially came in as an advisor, will take over on an interim basis.
Dumars will help in the search of a new general manager and tied up to that is the future of Luke Walton. The 40-year-old has not had a good first season and Walton has had trust issues with some of the team’s stars. Hield has had his disagreements with Walton and this may carry on until next season.
For now, the word out is that Walton will stay on as head coach. But that is subject to change. It may depend on who will be the Kings' next general manager or how Walton performs next NBA season.
