Hield competes in two events at All-Star weekend

Hield competes in two events at All-Star weekend
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings competes in the 2018 Taco Bell Skills Challenge at Staples Center on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Chavano “Buddy” Hield had his hands full this weekend, competing in two events over the course of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, California.

On Friday, Hield represented The Bahamas as a member of team World in the Rising Stars game. Hield finished with 29 points to lead team World in the 155-124 wire-to-wire victory.

Hield’s teammate Bogdan Bagdanovic scored 26 points and was named as the game’s Most Valuable Player.

“It was good fun,” Hield said about the game. “It’s like an All-Star game, so it isn’t really too competitive, but it was good to get out and play with team World. These games show how much the world is catching up in the game of basketball. It goes to show that the work everyone is putting in is paying off.”

Hield wasn’t able to build off the momentum from the Rising Stars Game, as he suffered a first round loss in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge to Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who went on to defeat Chicago Bulls center Lauri Markkanen in the final. Hield was ahead the majority of the round, but was unable to make the final three-point shot to seal the deal.

“It’s tough because I was ahead,” he said. “I had fun doing it. I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”

Hield said competing in two events during All-Star Weekend was a dream come true.

“It’s something I didn’t believe would happen in my lifetime, so I’ll embrace it and thank God for me being here. So I’m just having fun and I’m glad I’m done with it so I can relax a little bit.”

About Randy Smith

Randy Smith is the producer of the widely-watched local television show “Beyond The Headlines” and the web content manager of Eyewitness News. He joined Eyewitness News as a sportscaster in 2018, a role he still performs, and has previously covered a slew of international sporting events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, the Nike EYBL Showcase, several IAAF World Relays, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Bahamas Bowl and multiple CARIFTA Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Randy has been recognized by the Bahamas Press Club with awards for “Best Sports Broadcast” as a sportscaster and “Best TV Talk Show” as a producer.