The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE there are rumours circulating that Grand Bahamian Chavano “Buddy” Hield could be on the trading block again during the off-season, he’s making the best of his current sting with the Golden State Warriors.

In the aftermath of an injury that has sidelined Stephen Curry, Hield has stepped up his game and joined an historic group of National Basketball Association players to reach the 2,100 career three-points made in their careers.

In the first half of their game against the Atlanta Hawks with Curry missing in action, Hield canned the shot to push him at number 16 on the all-time list.

He now joins an active group of players that include Curry, who tops the list with 4010; James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers in second with 3,144; Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks at No.4 with 2,904; Klay Thompson of the Dallas Mavericks in fifth with 2,675; LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers in seventh with 2,543; Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers in ninth with 2,349; Kyle Lowry also of the 76ers in 13th with 2,184 and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns in 14th with 2,184.

Hield trails Paul Pierce, formerly of the Boston Celtics, who is sitting in 14th spot with 2,204. Eric Gordon of the 76ers, who teamed up with Hield to play for The Bahamas in the Qualifying Tournament for the 2024 Olympic Games, is next behind Hield with 2,084.

Hield, the 32-year-old sharpshooter who is now into his eighth season in the NBA, was drafted as the sixth pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans out of the University of Oklahoma.

In 703 games played so far in his career, which included stops with the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and the 76ers, Hield has registered a total of 19,946 points. He has scored 10.616 points with 826 free throws made. 

The former Jack Hayward Wildcats player who went on to play for Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas, was involved in a six-team trade from the 76ers to the Warriors in July, 2024.

He was to join the Warriors, who parted ways with Thompson only to acquire the service of Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat before the NBA trade deadline.

But after Curry sustained a left pelvic contusion injury against the Toronto Raptors, “Buddy” is expected to step up and continue his torrid shooting that he’s known for.

In doing so, he will only continue to climb up the ladder in the NBA career stats.

Golden State, who dropped to sixth place in the Western Conference with a 41-30 win-loss record, played the Miami Heat last night in Butler’s first game against his former team since he demanded a trade that landed him with the Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors’ next game is scheduled to be played against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.