Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield is not the first or only basketball superstar from the Bahamas.
Mychal Thompson, who was the top pick of the 1978 NBA draft, said he’s puzzled that Hield isn’t expected to be the No. 1 pick or even widely projected as a top-three pick for the upcoming NBA draft. He's currently projected to go No. 7 in USA TODAY Sports' latest mock draft.
“I don’t know what else they want this young man to do," said Thompson, who was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers and later played for the Los Angeles Lakers teams that won the 1987 and 1988 NBA titles. “He can do everything you ask of an NBA guard.
“He moves without the ball like J.J. Reddick. He shoots like he’s a member of the Golden State Warriors. He can create his own shot. He’s got a high basketball I.Q. He can move his feet defensively."
Thompson said he thinks Hield, who has led Oklahoma to the Final Four and is a top candidate for college Player of the Year, is suffering from bias that led Stephen Curry to being picked seventh in the 2009 NBA draft.
Hasheem Thabeet and Jonny Flynn, both considered busts, were picked ahead of Curry, as were Tyreke Evans and Ricky Rubio.
“It’s the Stephen theory," Thompson told USA TODAY Sports of Hield’s NBA draft stock. “The scouts don’t believe what their lying eyes are telling them. Just like they didn’t believe in Steph, for some reason they don’t see what Buddy’s doing as translating to the NBA at the highest level."
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