2016 NBA Draft: Buddy Hield Player Breakdown

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Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams 85-81 during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Key Strengths

There’s very little question that Buddy Hield is the best shooter in the 2016 NBA Draft. Some might have a higher ceiling than him, but Hield dominated the 2015-16 college basketball season on the strength of his 3-point shooting.

There’s no better time for Hield to enter the NBA with that skill than the present.

In 2011-12—just four recent seasons ago—no NBA team attempted at least 2,000 3-point field goals. In 2015-16, 13 teams attempted at least 2,000 3-point field goals.

This is the golden age of 3-point shooting, and Hield is the best shooter in the country. That’s generally called perfect timing.

Hield, who’d made at least 90 3-point field goals in each of the previous two seasons, converted 147 on 45.7 percent shooting as a senior. He made an unfathomable 48.9 percent of his 3-point field goals with his feet set, and shot an efficient and effective 37.2 percent off the bounce.

Hield also has a prototypical build for a shooting guard at 6’5″ and 212 pounds with a 6’9″ wingspan, thus creating his potential as a plus defender.

Next: Key Weaknesses

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