The Indiana Pacers hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night in a game between Central Division rivals. Indiana guard Buddy Hield wasted no time getting going.
Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen actually got his hand on the ball on the opening tip against Cleveland’s Myles Turner. Unfortunately for Allen and the Cavaliers, he tipped the ball right to Hield. Hield, who had separated himself from Evan Mobley, then turned around and had a wide-open three-pointer. He wasted no time, taking the shot and giving the Pacers a quick 3-0 lead.
Buddy Hield wasted NO TIME after the tip 😳 pic.twitter.com/V3ugqywjIE
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 30, 2022
Pacers sideline reporter Pat Boylan and Donnell Sugs of The Atlanta Voice were both impressed by what they saw. Boylan tweeted “Summarize Buddy Hield’s December in 3 seconds” while Donnell was more succinct, saying, “Shooters shoot!”
Summarize Buddy Hield's December in 3 seconds https://t.co/pnc4ju7eqg
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) December 30, 2022
Shooters shoot! https://t.co/pW67V3tad2
— Donnell Suggs (@suggswriter) December 30, 2022
Other observers were impressed with the quickness of the shot, wondering if it might have been historic.
Jordan York, co-host of the Chris Wormley & Friends show, commented that Hield’s shot “Might be the fastest bucket I’ve seen ever.”
Might be the fastest bucket I’ve seen ever..
— Jordan York🎙 (@JordanYorkMusic) December 30, 2022
She was not the only one to make that observation.
Former CFL player and University of Minnesota defensive back, Troy Stoudemire Jr., tweeted “Y’all wanna see the quickest points scored in nba history” with a laughing emoji.
Podcaster Owen Hadzima said of the shot, “That HAS to be the quickest basket in @NBA history!”
Y’all wanna see the quickest points scored in nba history 😂 https://t.co/En2eP6SnAH
— Troy Stoudermire Jr. (@_Stoudermire11) December 30, 2022
That HAS to be the quickest basket in @NBA history! https://t.co/HkFNCisYzT
— Owen H (@OT_Voices) December 30, 2022
As it turns out, those observations were on point.
ESPN Stats & Info said that Hield’s shot was the fastest made three since tracking began. He broke the record of another man that the Pacers and their fans know quite well, Reggie Miller.
“Hield’s 3-pointer at 11:57 in the 1st quarter is the fastest 3-point make in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97). He beats out Pacers legend Reggie Miller’s 3-pt make at 11:56 of the 1st Qtr on March 5, 2000 against the Warriors.”
Hield's 3-pointer at 11:57 in the 1st quarter is the fastest 3-point make in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97).
He beats out Pacers legend Reggie Miller's 3-pt make at 11:56 of the 1st Qtr on March 5, 2000 against the Warriors. https://t.co/eUQSZZlDNN
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 30, 2022
Realistically, shots can’t be made a lot quicker than this. So, this record should stand for a while.
[SportsCenter, ESPN Stats & Info]
