Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield has been creeping up NBA draft boards this season, and his strong play during the NCAA Tournament has done nothing to diminish that stock. One of the many taking notice is Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
In an interview with Jason King of Bleacher Report, Kobe said he was “blown away” by Hield.
“Blown away,” Bryant told Bleacher Report. “Blown away.”
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“I just love his motor,” Bryant told B/R. “I love his passion and his energy. He puts everything he has into the game. Lots of guys go hard out there, but with him, it’s a on a different level. You can see it on his face. He truly loves every minute that he’s out there.”
Kobe’s got a point. Hield was dominant this season for the Sooners, averaging more than 25 points per game, and he’s continued that dominance in the NCAA Tournament. He scored 37 points in Oklahoma’s 80-68 upset win over Oregon this weekend, including hitting eight three-pointers, and went off for 36 and six threes in the Sooners’ 85-81 victory over VCU in the second round.
Hield can flat out score, and he’s doing it on college’s biggest stage. He’s been Kobe-esque.
Hield said he’s a big Kobe fan and put extra pressure on himself to perform when Bryant was in attendance for Oklahoma’s matchup against Oregon.
“I’m a Kobe freak,” Hield said. “I’ve got a serious man crush on Kobe. You’ve gotta perform when the Mamba’s in town. He gave me a little dap and nodded his head and I said, ‘OK, it’s time to go to work.’”
Mission accomplished.
Hield won’t get a chance to play Bryant in the NBA as the Black Mamba is calling it quits this year, but he can take solace knowing one of the NBA’s greatest scorers handed him such a huge compliment. That’s pretty cool.
Hield and the Sooners will take on Villanova in the Final Four on Saturday evening.
