Buddy Hield ‘never had a problem’ with the Kings amid reports of his unhappiness
By Jason Jones Dec 5, 2020
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The last thing to expect from Buddy Hield when he spoke to the media Saturday was any form of repentance.
That’s not how Hield operates.
Hield is going to say what is on his mind, whether you like it or not.
So when asked if he’d do anything differently or if any relationships needed to be repaired between him and the Kings organization, Hield responded as anyone who knows him might expect.
“I have no regrets, and there’s nothing to be worked on,” Hield said. “I never had a problem with nobody here. Everything that was being heard, it wasn’t put out by me, so I love everybody here in this franchise, this organization. I don’t regret nothing I said. I’m going to keep it 100.”
Those were Hield’s first public comments since the end of last season, when he was unhappy with how his benching was handled by coach Luke Walton, whom he’d
called out earlier in the season for not trusting him late in games.
That was followed
by Hield not returning Walton’s calls in the offseason and social media habits that included liking posts related to Hield possibly being traded to Philadelphia.
Within the organization, it wasn’t a huge concern, sources have said, because Walton was not stressed by not speaking to Hield. It was the offseason, and each player handles it his own way.
The Kings also didn’t need to speak to Hield to know he was diligently preparing for this season. Hield isn’t just the Kings’ biggest talker. He could easily be their hardest worker, too.
Hield’s habit of showing up early and staying late to get in extra work is common and expected.
“I’m here to play basketball, win games,” Hield said. “That’s my main focus, trying to turn things around. That’s all I’ve been focused on, trying to win games. Everything that comes with it, comes with it, but I’m just locked in on that.”
Many of the questions about Hield and his happiness center on his role as a sixth man. He was benched in favor of Bogdan Bogdanovic in late January, and the Kings went 13-7 in their next 20 games to earn a chance to play in the NBA’s restart.
Hield shot 41.6 percent overall and 36 percent from 3, and he averaged 20 points in 34.4 minutes per game across 44 starts. His scoring dipped to 17.9 points in 25.1 minutes in 28 games off the bench, but his shooting increased to 45.4 percent overall and 45.1 percent from 3.
Bogdanovic departed the Kings in free agency for Atlanta, but Walton has not committed to
putting Hield back in the starting lineup.
Hield said whether he starts is not his concern.
“To be honest with you, I always love competing and it doesn’t matter, that’s not my job,” Hield said. “I don’t control that. The head coach controls that. … They brought me here for certain reasons, to play basketball, win basketball games, so whatever they need me for, I’m going to do it and try to compete at the highest level that I can.”
Hield is in the first year of a four-year contract extension worth up to $106 million, a deal negotiated under former general manager Vlade Divac.
The change in leadership led to speculation Hield could be traded, but new GM Monte McNair
said he and Hield are on the “same page.”
Hield said nothing that has happened over the offseason would prevent him from giving his all on the court.
“That’s why I’m here, right?” Hield said. “That’s why I came to America (from the Bahamas): to do my job, to play in the NBA. That’s what I love doing. I don’t come to the gym early in the morning just because I want to get paid. I do it because I love it, so that’s why I come to compete, and that’s what I’m going to do here every night. Compete and try to win basketball games.”
McNair said he is looking forward to seeing Hield play in the Kings’ offense this season. The plan is to increase the pace, which plays into Hield’s strength as a tireless runner who can free himself in transition instead of attacking a set defense.
That was the style of play the Kings implemented in 2018-19, when Hield had his breakout season, averaging a career-high 20.7 points in Dave Joerger’s final season as coach.
Joerger and Hield did not have the best relationship at times, but that remains Hield’s best season.
Now it will be up to Walton to get Hield and the rest of the team back to running, which he should be comfortable doing.
With the exception of last season,
Walton has often implemented an up-tempo style.
The addition of new associate head coach Alvin Gentry means the Kings are expected to run a lot more this season.
Gentry was Hield’s first NBA head coach, with the two together in New Orleans before Hield was traded to Sacramento in February 2017.
“Alvin’s going to be Alvin,” Hield said. “I know Alvin from New Orleans, so there’s already that relationship there. I know he’s a fun guy to be around and his spirit is always upbeat. It’s a fun group.”
Starting or not, Hield should benefit from increased pace. The Kings have added players who fit that style. Hield, who is always in good shape, should have no problem running more.
“We’re just going to see how it starts, but it should be a fun group,” Hield said. “Just knowing Alvin’s track record and the way he played in New Orleans, just watching their team play last year, it just reminds me of us when we played, when we had Dave.”
If the Kings are playing fast like they did in Joerger’s last season, that might be what keeps them competitive and Hield happy.
or if they want to give up that 2023 Mavs pick.
