"Told me to shoot the f***ing ball": Buddy Hield reveals HOFer's NSFW advice to him at halftime
Buddy Hield starred in the Golden State Warriors' 126-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans with a 28-point performance on Tuesday. The sharpshooter, who has enjoyed a good start for his new team, shot 9-18 from the field and 7-11 from beyond the arc.
After the game, Hield revealed the advice he received from former Indiana Pacers superstar Reggie Miller at halftime, which saw him turn on the jets in the second half.
"He told me to shoot the f***ing ball!" Hield said.
With Steph Curry sidelined due to an ankle injury, Hield was slotted into the lineup. The nine-year veteran paired up alongside Brandin Podziemski to form Golden State's backcourt against the Pelicans. He ended his evening with 28 points, one rebound and one assist.
Assisting Hield on the scoring front were Podziemski and Moses Moody with 19 and 17 points, respectively. Also sparking the offense off the bench was Lindy Waters III with 21 points as the Warriors improved to 3-1.
Buddy Hield explains how he and Steph Curry are understanding each other's game better
Hield was acquired in the offseason to fill the shooting void left by Klay Thompson, and he has proven to be a solid acquisition.
He demonstrated his 3-point shooting in a preseason game against the Detroit Pistons.
Later, he shared how he and Curry exchanged notes ahead of their game against the Utah Jazz.
"We were talking about feet," Hield said. "He was trying to figure out how I caught the ball and shot it, and what he’s comfortable with, what I’m comfortable with. We were talking about feet and balance."
It appears the Hield-Curry connection is off to a good start. This season, Hield is averaging a healthy 21.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 51.7% from the field and 55.6% from downtown.
Up next, Hield and the Warriors play the Pelicans again at the Chase Center on Wednesday. A win will see Golden State build a two-game winning streak to consolidate its position in the West.