As new Kings guard Buddy Hield walked over to talk to reporters after his first practice with the team Wednesday, a team employee signaled to the rookie, who was still batting a basketball between his hands.
"You want the ball?" Hield said, flipping it above the assembled media. "You got it."
The moment seemed to illustrate what those who know Hield say is one of his strongest characteristics: It is hard to separate the 23-year-old Bahamian from his craft.
"He puts a lot of hours in the gym," said guard Langston Galloway, acquired with Hield from New Orleans. "He's always in the gym. He's always thinking basketball."
It is a big reason Hield, who grew up playing on homemade hoops in the Bahamas, now takes aim at NBA ones. His high school coach said Hield is "driven by the passion to work and get better." His college coach said: "I don't care who you've got, Buddy's going to be in the gym more."
It is a trait that attracted the Kings, who late Sunday traded All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi to the Pelicans for Hield, Galloway, Tyreke Evans and two draft picks. Discussing the trade the next day, Kings general manager Vlade Divac said of Hield: "His work ethic is exactly what we want here."
Asked where it comes from Wednesday, Hield cites two things: His admiration for Kobe Bryant, and his upbringing.
"Growing up was hard, so I know the value of making it," he said. "I know the value of hard work."
