How a Kid from the Bahamas Beat the Odds
And became the best shooter in the NBA
Whatsup Squad,
Shooters in the NBA are in high demand.
Since the introduction of the three-point line, and with players like Stephen Curry, basketball has changed drastically.
But I’m not here to talk about the greatest shooter of all time.
I’m here to talk about his teammate.
Buddy Hield is the best shooter in the NBA.
Growing up in Eight Mile Rock
Buddy’s story begins in Eight Mile Rock, a small village in Grand Bahama.
Unlike neighboring Nassau, Eight Mile Rock is not known for its beautiful landscapes and tourism, but rather as a tough neighborhood.
Born Chavano Rainer Hield, Buddy’s government name comes from his father, but his nickname and his inspiration come from his mother.
His mother raised all seven kids herself, teaching them right from wrong and keeping them on the right path.
In his letter in The Players’ Tribune, he wrote:
My mom was the hardest working person I knew. She spent her days cleaning the houses of wealthy families in nearby neighborhoods just to put food on the table.
Buddy’s dream to make it to the NBA started young, but his mother didn’t want him spending time at the park (and around negative influences).
That didn’t stop him from working on his game.
At around 11, with no money for a hoop, he decided to build his own out of plywood and a milk crate.
If the hoop broke, he would build a new one.
He spent hours practicing his jumpshot on these DIY hoops.
Taking a Leap of Faith
Each year, for the past two decades, the Darrell Sears Showcase has been a staple on the Bahamas’ basketball calendar, showcasing the best talent the country has to offer.
When Buddy was 16, Kyle Lindsted, coach of Sunrise Christian Academy, was attending the annual camp.
Lindsted admits that Buddy wasn’t the best player on the island, but his energy impressed him.
He wasted no time in pursuing Buddy, and was soon sitting with his mom to pitch the idea of her son coming to play for him.
The transition was not easy, but it gave him virtually unlimited access to a gym.
At the tiny prep school in Wichita, Kansas, away from his mom and her food, he honed in on his craft.
He got an opportunity, and that’s all he needed.
During his junior year, he led the team to the national championship and earned MVP honors.
Becoming Buddy Buckets
Despite some interest, it wasn’t until a big summer of AAU that his college recruitment took off.
Even before Buddy was in Kansas, he was on the radar of Chris Crutchfield, a coach who had been monitoring his improvement since he first noticed Buddy at the showcase in the Bahamas.
Buddy’s move to Wichita — and Crutchfield's move to join Oklahoma in 2011 — helped bring him and the Sooners together.
At Oklahoma, he transformed from a freshman bench player to Buddy Buckets as a senior.
He led the team to a Final Four, became Oklahoma's career leader in 3-pointers and the leading scorer in Big 12 history.
Defying the Odds
By this point, Buddy was already a hero back home, and he could’ve been content with just making it to the NBA.
But that’s not him.
In Buddy’s draft interview, he explains the challenge for athletes from the Caribbean:
I think the Caribbean has been overlooked because guys don't really have the resources to get out…there's a lot of freak athletes down there that can play, and a lot of guys better than me who I feel like didn't get an opportunity like me, but when I got my opportunity, I took full advantage of it”
He remains intrinsically motivated.
In 2021, he became the fastest player in NBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers.
Now, in his 9th season, and on his 5th team, he keeps elevating his game.
Averaging almost 5 made threes per game, while shooting over 50%, he is off to a historic start this season.
If past performance is the best indicator of future success, I’d bet on Buddy.
Final thoughts
When people see an NBA player, they see the final product. But there’s so many steps along the way, where everything has to fall in place.
His confidence, work ethic, and support system have made all the difference and will continue to guide him to new heights in the NBA.
If Buddy were to pay attention to the odds, he would not have made it this far.
Instead, he changed the odds by focusing on the factors he could control.
And now, I like his odds.
Until next time ✌🏾
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