Buddy Hield’s departure from the Golden State Warriors leaves a locker room void that is overlooked. Despite the highs and lows throughout his one-and-a-half seasons with the Warriors, he left an indelible imprint on his former teammates.
The environment around any organization is essential in its ability to withstand the ups and downs that inevitably surface. Good energy doesn’t show up in a box score, but it is still important in a team’s success. Buddy Hield was the embodiment of that very idea.
Buddy’s Good Vibes
This season was a particularly difficult one for Hield, who averaged a mere eight points on 17.5 minutes per game — the lowest of his career. Still, he never let the turbulent times hinder his teammates or affect his attitude around them.
His positive attitude is one that everybody on the team appreciated, especially the franchise’s superstar. According to head coach Steve Kerr, Hield is one of Stephen Curry’s favorite teammates of all time. Kerr understands the importance of maintaining an uplifting presence during an 82-game grind with lots of time away from home.
“The joy that he brings, the laughter, the upbeat nature, regardless of how things are going…He’s always in a good mood,” he said. “And that stuff is crucial in a long season.”
“In the locker room, you need guys like that. So everybody loves Buddy. He’s just a wonderful, wonderful person.”
Curry added: “We love the consistency, because he’s just having fun, he’s spontaneous, he loves basketball, he works. If it goes his way or not, he’s kind of the same guy.”
Hield isn’t just one of Curry’s favorite teammates; he is also one of Draymond’s. As a 14-year veteran whose own name recently swirled around in trade talks, the trade deadline is always a difficult time for him. Seeing close friends come and go never gets easier, but that’s just the nature of the NBA.
“Buddy Hield left a mark,” Green said on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show. “Buddy Hield is one of my favorite teammates of all time. To see him go – you feel the gap, you feel the hole. It’s like I said before, it’s the s–ttiest part of the business.”
Unique Relationship with Jimmy
Hield’s tenure in the Bay left no shortage of comical moments with Jimmy Butler, from on-court interactions to post-game pressers. The two quickly became friends, spending time together almost immediately after Butler arrived in Golden State
Butler infamously cited the resurgence of his “joy” after joining the team. That may be partially due to his escape from his tumultuous situation in Miami, in which he clashed with Heat executive Pat Riley. It may also be partially due to the coveted contract he wanted and ultimately received with the Warriors. But Hield’s upbeat personality also helped to contribute to the joy that Butler and the whole team felt.
“He does bring joy to the locker room, to the plane. No matter where we’re at, you’re going to hear him, and he lifts everybody up,” Curry said.
Hield was often the first one up to greet teammates checking out of a game. He always made it a point to cheer on his guys, even when they had taken his minutes in the rotation.
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“Whether he’s playing or not, he’s goofy…The smiling, the joking, no matter what,” Butler echoed.
The playful banter was a recurring theme between the two veterans, poking fun at each other while jokingly claiming they didn’t like each other.
“I don’t like Buddy,” Butler laughed, “but I really respect Buddy for what he brings every day: smiling, being a great teammate.”
Whenever Butler needed someone to talk to or hang out with, Hield was there for him. Hield was simultaneously his biggest hater and biggest cheerleader in the best way possible.
Moving On
The deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis came at the expense of bidding farewell to the locker room staple. The hope is that the Warriors will be able to get more offensively out of Porzingis than they were able to from Hield. Porzingis could prove to be a great fit with the Warriors. Nevertheless, Hield’s vibrant charisma and infectious personality will undoubtedly be missed.
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