The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BUDDY Hield struggled from beyond the arch in the first two games of the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League but the sharpshooting guard improved in his latest outing.

Hield scored 22 points, including 6-9 from three-point range in the Kings' 95-92 loss to the Loss Angeles Lakers at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday night.

The Lakers led by as many as 28 before Hield sparked Sacramento's late run which eventually fell short. They trailed 68-40 in the third quarter before going on a 39-9 run to take the lead with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including a stretch where he made three consecutive three pointers.

Through three games, Hield is averaging 16.7 points on 36 per cent shooting from the field with 3.7 rebounds per game.

He opened Summer League play with 16 points in an 89-85 loss to the Kings, but struggled from the field on 6-16 shooting and 0-6 from three point range. In game two, Hield scored 12 in an 81-75 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He shot 4-14 from the field but just 1-5 from three.

Winless thus far in league play, the Kings will have to wait to learn of their next opponent as they enter the Summer League tournament.

Hield leads a Summer League squad that includes fellow second-year players Skal Labissiere, Georgis Papagiannis and a star-studded rookie class featuring No.5 selection in this year's draft: De'Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles and Frank Mason III.

He spoke on his role as a leader in Kings mini-camp.

"It's my role now, it was a role for me since I was in college and I'm just trying to make that translate. I know we added some new vets to the team, but I'll still take on a leadership role, even when they get here, trying to be the leader the young guys need me to be. Somebody has to make a change and we're trying to change the culture around here," Hield said. "My goal is just to go out there and just be efficient and get better."

work on weaknesses, make shots, win games and try to lead these young guys. To try to change the culture here in SAC and start off right, using my experience I've had in the NBA so far and try to take that into Summer League. You know it's going to be chaotic, fast and guys are going to try and be up and down a lot, but just try to control the game and have fun and compete."