The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Dr Danny Johnson heralded Bahamian Chavano "Buddy" Hield's ascension to the National Basketball Association (NBA) ranks, charging on Friday that critics of the Grand Bahamian are just "jealous" of his accomplishments. 

Dr Johnson, who said he was present at Thursday night's NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York, said Hield's rise to the professional ranks of the NBA is indicative of the Bahamas' ability to "shine on the world stage" as well as another example of the "value of sports" as a part of the country's international brand.

For that reason, Dr Johnson laughed dismissively when informed of hateful remarks levied on social media against Hield and the Bahamas in general, stating confidently that "our record speaks for itself in the league of nations".

On Thursday night, Hield, arguably the best shooter in the NBA Draft and former star guard for the Oklahoma Sooners, was selected sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans. It marked the end of a star-studded senior season for Hield with the Sooners, which concluded with a litany of awards including the John R Wooden, Naismith and Oscar Robertson Player of the Year trophies. 

Hield was also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches first-team, a first-team, a first-team All-American by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), Sports Illustrated and USA Today. His list of honours also includes the Sporting News Player of the Year, CBS Sports Player of the Year and the All-Big 12 first-team. 

Despite those numerous accolades and subsequent high first-round pick by the Pelicans in the Draft, some users on the popular social media site Twitter opted to launch unwarranted attacks at Hield as well as racist and/or demeaning attacks against Bahamians in general, calling them all "illiterate".

Those insults sparked a social media war, with the 'Bahamian Twitterati' fiercely defending Hield - and their country - from all the unwarranted insults.   

When contacted on Friday, Dr Johnson chuckled before addressing the matter. 

"Once again, you have to stick to the substance of the matter," he said. "This is another time that we have a first round draft pick of a foreign born player, but not just a foreign-born player, a player that comes from a country of 300,000 people. And becomes the Naismith player of the year. 

"So people who would bash that, I would just think that they're just jealous. The fella is the best. Since Mychal 'Sweet Bells' Thompson we haven't seen someone like Buddy and we're very proud of him."

Dr Johnson also said the support for Hield at the draft was "incredible" as he said numerous individuals - Bahamians and otherwise - spoke highly of Hield's character. Dr Johnson also said Hield conducted himself throughout what he said was an "intense setting" on Thursday night. 

"He really was the most popular person in that stadium," Dr Johnson said. "He had Bahamians out in force who live in New York, the whole top tier of the rafters was just Bahamian flags. The commentators from ESPN and everywhere else actually asked about him and actually talked about the quality of young man's character. 

"And you saw it because tons of young boys and girls flocked to him; he stood there and signed autographs for maybe half an hour or so whereas all the other players just waltzed by and moved around. He represented himself really well." 

Dr Johnson added: "Me as the Minister of Sports, the government of the Bahamas, the Prime Minister and as far as I know every person that I have encountered from the Bahamas is extremely proud of the work Buddy Hield has put in, the effort he continues to show, and the results that he has had. It is fantastic. And so congratulations to him, his mother who has been praying for him, his family, and to the people of Grand Bahama. 

"We continue to shine on the world stage, and Buddy Hield is another example of the value of sports as a part of our national development but also as a part of our international brand. And so I fully support what he's doing. He's going to get better, a lot better, and he will continue to shine and carry our brand." 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration praised Hield for having entered the NBA ranks. 

"Mr Hield has been an inspiration to all Bahamians, but especially our young men," the ministry said in a statement. "He is a testament that humble beginnings is no boundary to what one can accomplish if one maintains the right attitude and hard work. He is an excellent ambassador for our country."