Hield moves up to fourth on Kia rookie ladder

After getting off to a slow start in the pros, it appears Buddy Hield has found his groove over the past few weeks, and as a result, he’s cracked the top five of the 2017 Kia Ladder for the first time this regular season.

Hield credits his return to Oklahoma for a game against the Thunder last month for his increased production on the court.

“Going to Oklahoma. That’s when everything started to turn around for me,” Hield said of a Dec. 4 game in Oklahoma City, his first as a pro in the Sooner State. “I feel like it was a homecoming, something I needed. I feel like when I was down there, playing in that city, staying in that state, I just got revived. I was able to shoot the ball well, put some quick points up on the board. A couple games later, I just started shooting the ball well.

Since the game against OKC, Hield has made 50 percent of his 94 three-point attempts.Prior to facing the Thunder, the 23-year-old rookie was shooting just 23.7 percent from behind the three-point line.

Hield’s steady improvement over the last for weeks currently has him sitting in fourth place on the list behind Joel Embid (Sixers), Malcolm Brogdon (Bucks) and Dario Saric (Sixers).

Through the Pelicans first four games this month, the 6’4″ wingman is averaging 13.8 points, five rebounds and 2.8 assists, while shooting just over 40 percent from the field.

Hield is currently averaging 9.2 points and 2.8 rebound per game.

 

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