SACRAMENTO -- Damian Lillard beware, Buddy Hield is coming for your record.
Hield dropped in five 3-pointers Thursday evening at Golden 1 Center in the Kings' 117-104 win over the Cavaliers, putting him just five away from tying Lillard NBA record for the most makes from behind the arc in the first three seasons of his career.
"I do want to get it, I wanted to break it tonight," Hield said. "I shot 5-for-11. I should have made all six, but it be like that sometimes."
Coming into the this season, Hield wasn't even on the radar to set the record. After posting 324 3-pointers in his first two season, he needed an astronomical increase in both attempts and makes. That is exactly what he's gotten this season in the Kings' uptempo offense.
"Five threes in three more games? Yeah, he's going to do that, that's easy for him," De'Aaron Fox said. "That's a testament to the work he's put in. The only thing that's different from Buddy this year and Buddy his first two years is the volume."
With his makes against the Cavs, Hield is at 270 for the season through 79 games. He's averaging 3.4 makes this season on 7.9 attempts, which puts him in rare company.
"I'm blessed, man," Hield said. "I'm in this situation, thank God for putting me here, you know, a kid from the Bahamas. I never thought in a million years that I'd be doing this."
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While Hield's attempts have skyrocketed, his shooting percentage has stayed surprisingly static. The 26-year-old shooting guard is hitting 42.9 percent this season, up from his career average of 41.9 percent.
Individual goals are good, as long as they fit in the team concept. Coach Dave Joerger has given the Bahamian-born shooter the green light and he's answered the call.
"I don't think that he probably walked into the season thinking that, and what a feather in his cap if that's something that can come to fruition," Joerger said.
Hield said he was under the weather after the game. A stomach bug has moved through the Kings' locker room over the last week and it's possible Hield has picked something up. With a game Friday evening in Utah, is it possible that Hield will miss his first game of the season?
"Oh hell no, what?," Hield said. "I'm not trying to miss no games. 82 - I'm trying to finish strong."
With three games remaining, Hield needs six triples to hit the 600 mark and pass Lillard. He's missed just two games in his three seasons in the league and is hungry to put his name in the record books.
