As a top ten pick in this year’s NBA Draft, New Orleans Pelicans draftee Buddy Hield is amongst the rookies that have elevated expectations. Few are expected to be outright stars right away and all must endure a rigorous learning curve.
Hield’s appeal and advantage over most of his peers in the draft was his maturity, having played four years at Oklahoma.
“We have had to tell @buddyhield more than once that he can’t come back to the gym at night, or else he won’t leave” @AlvinGentry
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) September 30, 2016
As a coach and a fan, this is what you call a good problem. Hield is showing the kind of early gym rat tendencies that it takes for a young player to stay sharp and ready for the next level. It’s also the kind of work ethic that can make a pretty good player great down the line.
Hield is projected as one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year along with no. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, who just suffered a significant foot injury. From the sound of things, Hield is focused on getting himself ready to face those expectations with maximum effort and a tireless work ethic.