NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the team has signed 2016 first round draft pick Buddy Hield. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Hield, 6-4, 214, comes off his senior season at the University of Oklahoma, where he claimed the Naismith Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, as well as Consensus First Team All-America, Big 12 Player of the Year and First Team All-Big 12 honors. Hield helped lead the Sooners to the 2016 Final Four on his 25.0 points per game, ranked second in the nation, and his top ranked 3.97 three-point field goals per game, while registering twelve 30-point performances during the course of his senior campaign. Over his four-year career, Hield averaged a career 17.4 points, finishing as the Big 12’s al-time leading scorer (2,661).
“We could not be more excited to add a player and person like Buddy Hield to the New Orleans Pelicans,” said Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Dell Demps. “He embodies all the traits we care about in our organization. His work ethic, energy and confidence have been on full display since he stepped foot in New Orleans. We look forward to helping him grow as a player as he will help us become a better team.”
Hield appeared in five games for New Orleans during the 2016 Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 16.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest.
