The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield continued a pair of recent trends Tuesday night - his hot start to 2022 and productive shooting nights against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hield finished with 26 points on 8-18 shooting from the field and 7-13 from three-point range off the bench in the Kings’ 122-114 loss to the Lakers at Crypto.com arena.

His night was highlighted by a pair of threes on consecutive possessions to give Sacramento a 108-107 lead with less than four minutes left to play before the Lakers rallied for the win.

In a November 26 matchup earlier this season, Hield scored 25 points, including 13 after regulation to help lead the Kings to a 141-137 triple overtime win.

The next meeting between the two teams will be January 12.

Hield, who was the focus of trade scenarios following a much maligned 2020-21 season, was rumoured to be the principle of a draft night trade package that would have sent him to the Lakers, but the franchise eventually shifted toward the eventual deal to trade for Russell Westbrook.

Hield said although it felt as if he would be a Laker in the offseason, he’s focused on the opportunity to improve irrespective of his situation.

“It did,” Hield told NBA.com following Tuesday night’s loss. “Talking to my agents and the media, of course. The media knows more than the agent and team, basically. But it didn’t happen. So, I’m still here. I’m still in the league and have an opportunity to play basketball. That’s the fun about it.”

He was also rumoured to be attached to a deal that could see him involved in a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons. Despite the speculation, Hield said he is ready to move on and contribute to team development, due in large part to his relationship with Kings general manager and president of basketball operations, Monte McNair.

“It’s basketball. If it happened, it happened. If it didn’t, it didn’t,” he said. “But it’s basketball, and you have to live with it. It’s the business side of it. At the end of the day, I still have a job. I can go to all 30 teams in the league. As long as I have a job, I’m happy.”

Hield said his approach remains the same irrespective of where he fits into the Kings’ loaded backcourt which includes franchise cornerstone De’Aaron Fox, Rookie of the Year finalist Tyrese Haliburton and the No.9 overall pick in the 2021 Draft - Davion Mitchell.

“It’s my personality and where I came from,” Hield said. “I come from the Bahamas. In the NBA, we complain, we argue and say we want more playing time and we want more shots. But being in the NBA, you have to enjoy being here. People are fighting every day to be in this league. I got an opportunity to be in this league, and hopefully I stick around for longer. I’m blessed to be here.”

Hield contrasted his experience under McNair, with his experience with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017 under GM Dell Demps.

“Whenever I’m called on, whatever the team wants me to do, I’ll just go out there and have fun,” Hield said on the final day of training camp prior to the season opener.

“Be the star in your role and whatever time I get out there, whatever shots I get up there be an All-Star in that, contribute to the team and whatever they need me to do.”

In 38 games, with six starts, Hield is averaging 15.8 points per game but shooting just 39 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range. His field goal and three-point percentages are the lowest in his career since his rookie season.