Buddy Hield’s journey from the Bahamas to NBA playoff hero with the Golden State Warriors was built on the foundation of his transformative four years at Oklahoma. His recent Game 7 heroics against the Rockets, scoring a playoff career high 33 points with nine 3-pointers, showcased the same sharpshooting brilliance that defined his college career.
The Sooners star’s collegiate evolution from raw freshman to consensus National Player of the Year represents one of college basketball’s most impressive development stories. Each season at Oklahoma revealed new dimensions to his game, culminating in a senior campaign that placed him among the greatest college shooters of his generation.
The Oklahoma Ascent: Four Years of Growth
Hield arrived at Oklahoma for the 2012-2013 season as an unheralded freshman, averaging just 7.8 points while shooting a modest 23.8% from three-point range. His sophomore campaign revealed his potential as he doubled his scoring output to 16.5 points per game while dramatically improving his three-point accuracy to 38.6%.
By his junior year, Hield earned Third Team All-American honors, averaging 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds. He led the Big 12 in both field goals and three-pointers made, establishing himself as one of the conference’s premier scorers and earning his first Big 12 Player of the Year award.
Throughout these formative years, Hield became known for his relentless work ethic, often taking 500-700 extra jumpers outside of team practices.
Senior Season Stardom: A Historic Campaign
Hield’s senior season elevated him to college basketball royalty. Averaging 25.0 points per game while shooting an extraordinary 45.7% from three-point range, he ranked second nationally in scoring and fourth in three-point percentage. His 147 made threes set an Oklahoma single-season record as he led the nation in three-pointers per game.
His historic final year included a breathtaking 46-point performance at Kansas, which tied the most points ever scored by an opponent in Allen Fieldhouse. He added another clutch performance with 37 points in the Elite Eight to send Oklahoma to the Final Four.
Hield’s big-game heroics and charismatic personality made him a fan favorite nationwide. Rival fans and analysts compared him to Stephen Curry’s legendary run at Davidson. Despite these comparisons, Hield remained humble, insisting he was “just Buddy” while letting his play speak for itself.
From Sooner Star to NBA Sharpshooter
Selected sixth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by New Orleans, Hield’s professional journey took him through Sacramento, Indiana, and Philadelphia before joining Golden State in July 2024. Throughout his NBA career, he has maintained the elite shooting touch developed during those four years at Oklahoma.
His Warriors tenure reached its defining moment in the 2025 playoffs against Houston, when his record-tying nine three-pointers in Game 7 saved Golden State’s season. With Curry struggling early, Hield’s performance echoed his college heroics, showcasing the same clutch shooting and big-game mentality that characterized his Oklahoma career.
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For Oklahoma fans who watched his transformation from raw freshman to college superstar, his playoff heroics with Golden State represent the natural evolution of a shooter who has always risen to the moment. The Buddy Hield of 2025 remains true to the hard-working shooter who captured college basketball’s heart in 2016.
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