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Buddy Hield Returns to the Sooner State With Rave Reviews

By Chip Rouse

Dec 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) brings the ball up the court during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) brings the ball up the court during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Twice a season, Sooner fans in the Oklahoma City area get to see former OU star Blake Griffin return to the site of this college fame when the Los Angeles Clippers come in to play the NBA Thunder. Buddy Hield experienced that for the first time recently when his New Orleans Pelicans made their annual trip to OKC.

Dec 15, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Hield, the former Oklahoma star and consensus National Player of the Year (Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy winner) last season in college basketball, received a standing ovation from the Oklahoma City Thunder crowd when he entered the game in the second quarter for the Pelicans in what will be one of only two games in Oklahoma City this NBA season.

It was Hield’s first time back at Chesapeake Arena since the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, when he dropped a combined 63 points and 9 of 13 three-point field goals in wins over Cal State-Bakersfield and Virginia Commonwealth.

The familiar rims at “The Peake” rewarded Hield in his return visit. The popular Sooner alum put on a show in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of his 16 points, including three treys, in the final 12 minutes. It wasn’t quite enough to garner a win for his team, however, as the Pelicans fell to the Thunder 101-92.

Dec 14, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) drives to the basket as Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) defends during the second half at Amway Center. LA Clippers defeated the Orlando Magic 113-108. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) drives to the basket as Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) defends during the second half at Amway Center. LA Clippers defeated the Orlando Magic 113-108. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Hield’s 16-point performance against the Thunder was his fourth best scoring game of the season. He had career-best 21 points earlier this week in a 102-95 win over the Indiana Pacers

Hield has appeared in all 28 of the Pelicans’ games this season, averaging 8.2 points and around 18 minutes a game.  He is shooting 38 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the three-point arc, figures that are well below his numbers a year ago in his senior season at OU. In his final season as a Sooner, Hield shot 50 percent overall and was accurate on 46 percent of his three-point tries, illustrating how much more difficult it is at the next level, where the talent level and competition is so much better.

It’s good to see Hield doing well in his rookie season in the NBA. Based on his work ethic and steady improvement in the college game, it is a good bet the former OU star will get even better over time as his NBA career progresses.

Another former Sooner who has established himself as one of the big names in the NBA is Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers. Like Hield, Griffin won both the Naismith and Wooden awards in 2008-09 as the college player of the year. He leads the Clippers in scoring with a 21.0 average.

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