Buddy Hield made the most of an unexpected chance to rejoin the Golden State Warriors’ rotation during Saturday’s win over Charlotte, as detailed by Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Despite being one of the league’s most accomplished three-point shooters, Hield has found it difficult to find consistency from beyond the arc this season while playing a reduced role, hitting only 32.7% of his three-point attempts entering the game.
The player’s opportunity came when Jimmy Butler was ruled out at the last minute for personal reasons, opening the door for additional minutes.
The 33-year-old took advantage, scoring 14 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting night while also contributing three rebounds, three blocks and two steals in just 18 minutes of action.
Head coach Steve Kerr praised both Hield’s performance and his overall presence around the team after the game.
“It was great. He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever seen,” Kerr said. “Just the way he conducts himself. His energy, his joy – whether he’s playing or not – it’s just the light that he brings to the locker room every day is infectious and powerful.
“He’s just an incredible guy to coach. I was happy for him that he had that night given that he’s been out of the loop for a while.”
Warriors Notes: Hield, Butler, Richard, Kerr, More https://t.co/1bD5ZJr8pd pic.twitter.com/ZCbA03u0YU
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) January 18, 2026
