SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield addressed his relationship with coach Luke Walton, his future with the franchise and his mindset entering a new NBA season Saturday during a 10-minute Zoom session with reporters.
Hield vowed to compete at the highest level whether Walton puts him back in the starting lineup or not. The 27-year-old shooting guard said he doesn't regret making public demands last season and does not believe any work is needed to repair the relationship with his head coach.
"I have no regrets," Hield said. "There's nothing to be worked on. I never had a problem with nobody here, so everything that was being heard, it wasn't put out by me. I love everybody here in this franchise and this organization, so I don't regret nothing I said. I'm going to keep it 100."
Hield was his usual playful self while bantering with reporters during his first media availability since the Kings opened training camp Tuesday, but he struck a different tone on some of the more sensitive subjects. Earlier in the week, Walton wouldn't commit to the idea of starting Hield this season, even after Bogdan Bogdanovic left to join the Atlanta Hawks. Hield didn't seem bothered by that.
"Everything in life, we all have to earn," Hield said. "You have to earn your job. There's nothing free in this world. I came from the Bahamas to play in the NBA. That was my dream. I beat those odds, so I'm a fighter. I'm going to compete for whatever is supposed to be mines, and if it's not mines, it won't be. So this is fun for me. I just love competing."
Hield said he is "locked in" as the Kings prepare for preseason play and their season opener against the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 23. He said he will not be distracted even as trade rumors swirl around him.
"I'm here to play basketball," Hield said. "Win games and that's my main focus, you know, trying to turn things around. That's all I've been focused on, trying to win games, so everything will come with it that comes with it, but I'm just locked in on that."
