GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 30, 2024

Buddy Hield

Media Conference

Q. Obviously you played against the Warriors many times. What was your thought process when they approached you to come here? And what role do you think you're going to fill?

BUDDY HIELD: You know, they play exciting basketball. Always kind of starts with Steph. And then the continuity behind Steph, the guys playing the right way, just screening, passing. They are probably one of the leading, I would say for the past 10 years, leads the league in passing, just moving the ball and shoots a lot of threes, of course.

It's exciting. I always loved their style of basketball that they have been playing for years. Even when I was in college I used to go to the games when I was in Oklahoma and watch them. They play an exciting brand of basketball unselfishly and they play hard on both ends.

And there's a winning culture here. It was a no-brainer for me. Just excited to play with those guys. And just be a sponge every day from training camp and just learn and watch and observe and find a way how I can fit in.

Q. How much do you look forward to feeding off the energy of Draymond and Steph and picking up some of the scoring load that was lost with Klay's departure?

BUDDY HIELD: You know, just taking it one day at a time, learning (indiscernible) in training camp, learning how I can see myself fitting in. Everybody stays (indiscernible). You've just got to take time, trying to figure out the passing, the cutting, the screening. Learning from Steph, learning from Draymond, Steve, the coaching staff, the players.

Playing with Gary is fun, too. Slow-mo, you've got Melton. You've got a lot of guys, Trayce and Brandin. Just figure out how I can be effective helping everybody score and feeding off all of them.

I think it's a fun adjustment. In basketball, you come to a new job, they are all great people and all great guys. I don't think it will be hard trying to pick up their tendencies. Sometimes it might take some time but it's fun.

Q. Will this training camp, being in Hawai'i, kind of benefit you and some of the new guys to bring the team together a little bit more?

BUDDY HIELD: Training camp is always fun regardless. You just learn from everybody. It's Hawai'i, of course, but I think that getting all the guys and just learning about them and be on the plane getting to know the guys. It's a long season. You're around these guys more than your families. I'm excited to be around them for sure.

Q. How was the free agency process for you? I know you were laying for Bahamas at the time when it was all going down.

BUDDY HIELD: It was a little stressful. It was a little difficult first time go-around. Different CBA rules this year, too. Trying to figure out (the second apron, all that kind of stuff. We didn't understand it. It was different.

But you know we figured it out, that's the main part about it. And, like I said, I'm glad to be a Warrior. I'm excited to be here and learn from these guys. I feel like God doesn't make any mistakes, and I'm here for a reason.

Q. You mentioned second apron in the rules. You probably couldn't fit into their plans if other stuff didn't go right. Was it a surprise to you? Did you think they were an option entering July?

BUDDY HIELD: You know what, me and my agent, she always tell me, everybody is an option. You never keep nobody out. Me, did I see myself coming back to California? No, I did not see it.

But, like I said, this is basketball. Anything can happen any day. A spot opened when Klay moved. And it's a great match. I'm just glad to be here and glad to be on the team and be able to learn from a championship organization. I'm just excited to get ready to play.

Q. Talking about trying to fit in with the new teammates and the cohesion, but I feel like you're at your best when you're being aggressive and letting it fly. How do you find that balance of adjusting and learning how to play with your teammates while also being aggressive and being yourself?

BUDDY HIELD: It's always like a fine balance. You just don't want to overstep boundaries -- you're the new guy coming in.

But I feel like nobody has a problem with me being aggressive. I feel like aggressive is good. When you're out there, you've just got to figure out your niche, and just play in the continuity of the offense and the flow of the offense.

And I think Steph plays with a great flow. Draymond plays with a great flow. As a scorer who loves to shoot the three, I love watching the Warriors play. I kind of have a feel of what they like doing. And scouting for them is hard because Steph is always moving.

I'm a person, a player who always love moving, too. And I thrive off that. I'm excited, man, to learn.

Q. Steve Kerr said, with or without Klay returning to the team, the Warriors were going to need to add shooting regardless. Have you had extended conversations about what that looks like getting to your spots and involved in a new kind of offense?

BUDDY HIELD: When the time comes to talk to Steve, I just take everything slow and just fit my way in. I don't want to rush things. I want to feel everything out, everybody out, players and the coaching staff. And just get to know everybody first. And after that, when it comes to a conversation with Steve, like -- exactly what he needs, I think that will be fine.

Q. You said you like to watch the Warriors. Can you explain what it is that you like about them? Is it the ball movement? Are they different than other teams?

BUDDY HIELD: What's so fun about them, the ball movement, and they're all unselfishly. They all play unselfish behind the basketball. And I think everybody tries to play that ball movement from San Antonio days, like when they were moving with Manu and Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, the way they move the ball. Doesn't matter who is on the court, they play the same brand no matter what. That's the fun part about it, just being unselfish.

Q. Some guys have been here scrimmaging the last couple weeks. Have you been in those?

BUDDY HIELD: A little bit.

Q. What did you pick up from that? Is there anything that you can pick up from those?

BUDDY HIELD: Guys play hard. You've got to get back in that championship mood. And it's there's a certain level of seriousness here when I step in the building. And I'm just piggybacking off everybody.

Q. Have you played with Steph --

BUDDY HIELD: A little bit.

Q. The spacing?

BUDDY HIELD: It will figure out itself.

Q. Besides team success, what's an individual goal you have for the season?

BUDDY HIELD: Just get back to the playoffs with this group. When you have guys like Steph and Draymond and a coach like Steve Kerr and Wiggins and everybody, I think that they are always in championship mode and you can't count them out. Being part of this team, something special can happen.

Q. Is there something personally you're trying to prove?

BUDDY HIELD: Trying to win a championship, that's the goal for everybody, trying to win a championship in the NBA. We're here to win it all. Money, all the stuff that comes with it doesn't mean nothing. I think winning is what matters to me and trying to win it all.

Q. You talked about being in Bahamas when this was happening, and Chris DeMarco was the coach. Did you have conversations about what to expect?

BUDDY HIELD: Yeah, I was talking to Chris the whole time saying, what do you think, man? He's, like, man, I think it would be perfect. Chris been talking -- he's been doing a little not say a little bit recruiting, but just giving me a variety of, like, things that would be good for me and my future if I came here.

He never forced nothing. But he told me -- and having a guy like Chris that I've been around all the past three or four summers helped a lot, too, because I understand him. You know, I feel like he's a guy that I can talk to when things are not going well. It made kind of sense, too.

Q. What are some of those things that he said that could really benefit you by coming out here?

BUDDY HIELD: The style of play mainly and, like, the way what Steve likes and how they play and what kind of value I can add to this team.

Q. Similarly, was Klay with you guys at that time?

BUDDY HIELD: Yeah.

Q. Did you also have conversations with Klay about this team or was it before or after his departure?

BUDDY HIELD: See what happened with Klay, what happened with Klay happened before everything started. That was like early June. So me and Klay didn't have that talk yet. But Klay is cool. We're good buddies.

Q. There aren't a lot of teams that play this kind of system. Of all the systems you've been in, what's the closest to the way the Warriors play?

BUDDY HIELD: I would say with Dave Joerger and Sacramento. I don't know if you guys remember, we always -- I think the split screens and getting up fast, throw-aheads.

In Indiana when I was playing with Tyrese, we would just pass, pass. I think it was different with Dave Joerger and his split screens and just back cuts and all that type of stuff, moving the ball, XYZ.

But similar to Indiana, too, but Indiana, I think more downhill, fast, trying to outscore everybody.

Q. You came into this league as a shooter. Out of college out of Oklahoma and everybody saw you as guy that could get buckets. What other aspects of your game do you feel has developed the most since college?

BUDDY HIELD: I think play-making, understanding reads and not always thinking score, score, score and trying to make the right play for the right teammate.

In the NBA, we can all go get a bucket but it's trying to get the best bucket. That's what coaches -- like, this is a good shot, it's a shot we all can make, but is it the best shot for the team? So, understanding what's a good shot for the team and generating good offense and just playing basketball the right way.