By RENALDO DORSETT
Tribune Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
BUDDY Hield's stellar play during his rookie season was officially recognised by the NBA as the league began to dole out its end-of-year awards yesterday.
The Grand Bahama native and Sacramento Kings guard was named to the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie First Team yesterday.
Hield becomes the 16th player in Kings franchise history and the 11th during the Sacramento era to earn All-Rookie Team distinction, a list that includes teammate Willie Cauley-Stein (2015-16 All-Rookie Second Team).
He is joined on the All-Rookie First Team by Joel Embiid and Dario Saric (Philadelphia 76ers), Malcolm Brogdon (Milwaukee Bucks) and Willy Hernangomez (New York Knicks).
He played 57 games with the New Orleans Pelicans before he was traded to the Kings in February. In 25 games for the Kings, Hield made 18 starts and averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and 42 per cent shooting from three-point range. On the season he averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds on 42 per cent shooting from the field and 39 per cent from three-point range. He finished fourth in 3-point and free throw percentage, eighth in field goal percentage and 11th in rebounding among all rookies.
Hield set a new career high scoring mark for the third time in a Kings uniform, on a night where he received his second KIA NBA Rookie of the Month award and one the franchise dedicated to fan appreciation. Prior to the trade, Hield had a scoring high of 21 points in 57 games with the Pelicans last season. He equalled or surpassed that mark four times since being traded to the Kings. With the Pelicans, he first scored 21 points in a 102-95 January win over the Indiana Pacers. As a member of the Kings, Hield finished with 21 points in the Kings' 116-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on March 22. Two days later he set a then-career high in scoring with 22 points in an 114-100 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
This season marks the first time since the annual honour was first presented 54 years ago that the NBA All-Rookie First Team includes four international players: Saric (Croatia), Embiid (Cameroon), Hield (Bahamas) and Hernangomez (Spain).
The NBA All-Rookie Second Team included Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Marquese Chriss (Phoenix Suns), Brandon Ingram (LA Lakers) and Yogi Ferrell (Dallas Mavericks).
Hield is already foreshadowing improvements in 2017-18.
"My rookie season was cool, it was okay, I wasn't satisfied with it. Many people might be satisfied with it, but I'm trying to build and make progress and try to get this franchise to the playoffs," Hield said to James Ham of NBC Sports. "I wear down, but there's a drive to keep me going. Just knowing my struggles to get here, how long the process was of me getting to the NBA. That's what keeps me going. I get tired, but I know where I came from and how hard it was to get here. I just can't give up."
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