A Royal Pain
Fansided

Sacramento Kings Report Card: Buddy Hield

By Tyler Watts

Mar 27, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center. The Kings defeated the Grizzlies 91-90. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center. The Kings defeated the Grizzlies 91-90. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Mar 15, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

DEFENSE: Grade- B

Hield’s traditional defensive stats were not gigantic during his tenure with Sacramento.  He averaged 4.1 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.1 block, and 1.4 personal fouls per game in his 25 games with the Kings.  Those numbers leave you wanting a little more, so let us take a look at the advanced metrics to see if they tell a different tale.

Buddy surprisingly yielded a positive 0.4 defensive win shares with the Kings (and a positive 1.3 for the season which was impressive especially for a rookie).  His defensive box score plus/minus was a negative 2.2.   This was a weak defensive Kings team so that number is not a huge red flag.

MUST READ: Royal Roundtable: Sixth Man of the Year for the Kings

Hield seems to lack the quickness to guard some of the talents at his position and is not a huge guy to defend larger players.  Those facts make me believe Hield will never be a defensive stopper, but if he can improve on the fringes, he will be a solid and passable NBA defender in my opinion.

Home/Kings News