A Royal Pain
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Sacramento Kings: Buddy Hield – A Gift & A Curse

By Anthony Cardenas

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center on February 20, 2020 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center on February 20, 2020 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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The Sacramento Kings secured Buddy Hield to a contract extension before the season. Is anyone having buyers remorse just six months later?

There have been plenty of adjustments that have been made by the Sacramento Kings players and coaches this season, but maybe none more so than Buddy Hield.

He enjoyed a career year during the 2018-’19 season in which he made 278 three pointers, the third highest single-season total of anyone not named Stephen Curry. His ascension from role player to valuable asset was sudden, and the Kings ponied up the money to keep him in Sacramento long term. Hield signed a four-year, $94 million contract extension before the start of the season, a nice reward for a player who was thought to be a crucial piece to the Kings young core and current rebuild.

There weren’t a lot of souls out there in Kings Land that were upset about Hield’s contract extension. We knew his value, we had seen him turn the tides of games with his dead-eye shooting. He would age gracefully as a catch and shoot guy, valuable to the franchise even if he loses some of his athleticism over time. The $94 million certainly wasn’t a steal, but it wasn’t a bad price to pay for an asset that is so valuable in today’s league.

Some of the fan base still feels the same way, and they’re not wrong for it. While his shooting percentages are down, Hield is still one of the most feared three-point specialists in the league. He has made more threes than anyone except James Harden and is shooting at a better clip than Damian Lillard. He showed off his prowess during last month’s All-Star Weekend, winning the three-point contest against some of the game’s best shooters.

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Hield still has the unique ability to turn games around by catching fire behind the line, as evidenced in a handful of games this season. For example, in last week’s loss to the 76ers, Hield entered the fourth quarter with just 8 points on 3 for 8 shooting. In that final period, he went 4 for 6 from beyond the arc, scoring 14 points to finish with 22 on the game, and bringing the Kings to within six points of the lead after being down by 19 at the end of the third.

There are only a handful of players in the NBA with the ability to catch fire as fast as Hield does, and his shooting is a great asset to have whether the team is down by 15 and needs scoring fast, or needs to pad a lead with some well-timed long bombs. Money well spent.

Unfortunately, there has been another side to Buddy Hield’s game that has reared its ugly head this season.

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