Chavano "Buddy" Hield's start to the 2016/17 National Basketball Association (NBA) season has been slow to put it modestly.

The 6'4" shooting guard is averaging 9.4 points on 33.7 percent shooting from the field and just 20 percent from behind the three-point line. Despite scoring in double figures in the New Orleans Pelicans last three games, Hield has had to take a lot of shots to get those points.

In their last contest against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Hield finished with 14 points on 6-for-16 shooting from the field and 1-for-7 shooting from three-point range in 22 minutes of action.

Hield, who was labeled as the best shooter in this year's NBA Draft, said after the game that he's not too concerned about his current shooting slump.

"I'll be fine," Hield repeated a few times when questioned by reporters.

The former Oklahoma star, who averaged 25 points off 50 percent shooting from the field in 37 games in his senior season in college, hasn't been able to display a similar touch in the pros.

"You need to relax and take good shots and let the game come to you. I'm just hyped up, nothing too major about it," said Hield.
Former Pelicans teammate Lance Stephenson said he hopes Hield figures it out quickly to get the critics off his back.

"He's gonna have games where your shots are just not falling," he said. "However, I tell him, 'man, keep shooting'. He's a lights out shooter. In practice he makes shots. He just needs to keep working."

When it comes to fighting off nervousness, Hield acknowledged that it's important for him to stay focused on the task at hand and less on the excitement of scoring.

"You make one or two shots and after that you try to change your mindset of the game quickly," he said. "You know, this isn't college. There are a lot of guys who are more athletic than you. I need to make the right play, the easy play," Hield said. "I just have to stay aggressive and stuff, but I'll be fine."

Another area where Hield has struggled has been on defense. The Grand Bahama native has had a tough time staying in front of his opponents so far in the early going.

Pelicans coaches have also publically stated that they need Hield to be more aggressive off the dribble, as over 40 percent of his shots have come without a dribble so far. Although he was brought in to be a release for forward Anthony Davis on the three-point line, the Pelicans, who are still without Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday, need him to play a bigger role with the ball in his hands.

Sheldon Longley, Guardian Sports Editor

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