Buddy Hield’s Locker Room Presence Will Be Missed

Curry added: “We love the consistency, because he’s just having fun, he’s spontaneous, he loves basketball, he works. If it goes his way or not, he’s kind of the same guy.”

Hield isn’t just one of Curry’s favorite teammates; he is also one of Draymond’s. As a 14-year veteran whose own name recently swirled around in trade talks, the trade deadline is always a difficult time for him. Seeing close friends come and go never gets easier, but that’s just the nature of the NBA.

“Buddy Hield left a mark,” Green said on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show. “Buddy Hield is one of my favorite teammates of all time. To see him go – you feel the gap, you feel the hole. It’s like I said before, it’s the s–ttiest part of the business.”

Unique Relationship with Jimmy

Hield’s tenure in the Bay left no shortage of comical moments with Jimmy Butler, from on-court interactions to post-game pressers. The two quickly became friends, spending time together almost immediately after Butler arrived in Golden State 

Butler infamously cited the resurgence of his “joy” after joining the team. That may be partially due to his escape from his tumultuous situation in Miami, in which he clashed with Heat executive Pat Riley. It may also be partially due to the coveted contract he wanted and ultimately received with the Warriors. But Hield’s upbeat personality also helped to contribute to the joy that Butler and the whole team felt.

“He does bring joy to the locker room, to the plane. No matter where we’re at, you’re going to hear him, and he lifts everybody up,” Curry said.

Hield was often the first one up to greet teammates checking out of a game. He always made it a point to cheer on his guys, even when they had taken his minutes in the rotation.

“Whether he’s playing or not, he’s goofy…The smiling, the joking, no matter what,” Butler echoed.

The playful banter was a recurring theme between the two veterans, poking fun at each other while jokingly claiming they didn’t like each other.

“I don’t like Buddy,” Butler laughed, “but I really respect Buddy for what he brings every day: smiling, being a great teammate.”

Whenever Butler needed someone to talk to or hang out with, Hield was there for him. Hield was simultaneously his biggest hater and biggest cheerleader in the best way possible.

Moving On 

The deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis came at the expense of bidding farewell to the locker room staple. The hope is that the Warriors will be able to get more offensively out of Porzingis than they were able to from Hield. Porzingis could prove to be a great fit with the Warriors. Nevertheless, Hield’s vibrant charisma and infectious personality will undoubtedly be missed.