Lakers’ Kobe Bryant handed out more praise for another 2016 NBA Draft prospect, Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield
With the West Region semifinals and finals for 2016 March Madness taking place in Anaheim, CA, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was in the stands for both rounds as the Lakers were off on both night. After watching the Sweet 16, Bryant praised Duke freshman forward Brandon Ingram. It was another player that inescapably caught his eye in the Elite Eight, though, in Oklahoma senior guard Buddy Hield.
Anyone watching Oklahoma play Oregon in the Elite Eight couldn’t escape what Hield did in that game. The senior star for the Sooners put up 37 points while shooting the absolute daylights out of the ball.
What’s interesting is that, after the game, Hield was asked about his performance that led the Sooners to the Final Four. Hield said that, after he saw Kobe in the crowd that he knew he had to do something special, which he obviously delivered on:
OU’s Buddy Hield on his 37 points vs. Oregon: “As soon as I saw Kobe was here, I knew I had to put on a show. Blame it on Kobe”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) March 27, 2016
And Hield’s phenomenal outing in front of his idol in Bryant didn’t go unnoticed by the retiring Lakers legend. As reported by Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Kobe was asked about what he saw from Hield and said that the Oklahoma senior turned in a “heck of a performance” on Saturday night.
The praise from Bryant didn’t stop there, though, as Kobe continued to say that Hield is going to be able to play the way he does in college when he makes it to the NBA. Kobe waxed poetic about scouts overthinking things when it comes to draft prospects, stating simply that guys can either play or they can’t and there’s nothing more to it.
From what we’ve seen at Oklahoma, Hield can flat-out play and he’s going to have a role in the NBA. The question, though, is where he’ll go in the 2016 NBA Draft and what his role will be on an NBA team. Will he be a superstar or just a top-end role player? Would he be a viable option for the Lakers if they wound up with the No. 3 overall pick? These are all things still rolling around.
Next: Lakers Draft Prospects: Buddy Hield Breakdown
Whatever happens, though, Hield has left his basketball role model impressed with his abilities and, you’d venture to say, has gained yet another fan.