3. Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings
2017-18 stats: 13.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.3 bpg, 45% fg, 43% 3 pt, 88% ft
2018-19 stats: 20.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.4 bpg, 48% fg, 45% 3 pt, 86% ft
After creating so much hype for himself in college, Buddy Hield’s first two years in the league could have been looked at as a slight disappointment. It wasn’t like he was bad, just that he didn’t exactly explode on to the scene like many of us thought he would.
However, in year three, Hield has taken the leap we were all hoping for at some point. And it may be fair to say that he has actually exceeded our expectations, becoming the leading scorer on a Sacramento team that is currently very much in the playoff race in the stacked Western Conference.
The Kings are building something exiting in Sacramento, and Hield is just one piece of their young puzzle.