Buddy Hield does not feel pressure replacing Klay Thompson

Buddy Hield does not feel pressure replacing Klay Thompson

While his production in the NBA hasn’t always been the most consistent, new Golden State Warriors shooting guard Buddy Hield is still one of the best shooters on the planet.

Since entering the NBA in 2016-17, he’s already buried 1,924 total 3-pointers. In fact, only one NBA player has surpassed him in total treys made over that span: Stephen Curry, his new teammate.

Hield, who signed a two-year, $21 million deal with the Warriors earlier this offseason in a sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, was asked if he felt any pressure replacing sharpshooter Klay Thompson, who’s now with the Dallas Mavericks after winning four titles in 13 seasons with Golden State.

“There’s no pressure,” Hield said, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. “Just come and do my job. What Klay has done for this organization has been tremendous. I love Klay a lot. I’ve watched him over the years. He’s special. The way he can get hot and the way he can just change the game and be the two-way player that he is, and the champion that he is.

“So, I don’t look at it as pressure. I think it’s fun just being in that role and seeing if I can get the same looks he got.”

Hield doesn't feel any pressure to step in and replace Klay Thompson 👀 pic.twitter.com/e4Lyi3WEQI

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) July 18, 2024

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Hield, Curry and Thompson make up three of five shooters who have made at least 1,000 3s at a 40.0 percent clip over the last eight seasons. He may not be the two-way specialist that Thompson was during his heydey, but he’s got a very quick trigger who shoots like he’s never seen a defender in his life. He’s also a lethal pull-up shooter who adds some value off-the-bounce inside-the-arc.

He was one of three role players–the other two being Kyle Anderson and De’Anthony Melton, who was teammates with Hield in Philadelphia–to join the Warriors this offseason. That helps ease the pressure to produce right away.

It’s likely that Hield replaces Thompson’s production off the bench, though it’s unclear what the starting 5 will look like in Golden State with Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga all vying for starting nods, among others.

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