SPORTS SECTION E
Thursday, January 8, 2026
NFL PLAYOFFS - Page E8
Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield: ‘I just love my job’ By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield entered the 2025-26 season with the Golden State Warriors as a veteran shooter expected to provide spacing and bench scoring. Over the course of the season, his role has shifted from a more regular rotation player to a specialised, situational contributor, yet the core value he brings to the Warriors’ franchise remains evident. This evolution reflects both roster complexity and the Warriors’ emphasis on younger players earning longer stretches, but Hield’s presence has
continued to provide stability on the floor. Through early January, with the Warriors holding a 19-16 record, Hield, 33, is averaging 7.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in approximately 17.8 minutes per night. He is shooting 41.9 per cent from the field, 32.4 per cent from three-point range and 87 per cent from the free throw line. His effective field goal percentage sits just under 55 per cent, reflecting that the majority of his attempts come from behind the arc or right at the rim in transition. He is also averaging just under one steal per game while committing fewer than one turnover per game, showing his efficiency within a low-usage role.
BUDDY HIELD By comparison, last season he averaged 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in just over 25 minutes per game while shooting 42 per cent from the field and 38 per cent
from three, numbers that reflect a much larger offensive role and more consistent minutes. The decline in raw production this season is closely tied to opportunity rather than effectiveness. Earlier in the season, Hield’s minutes hovered closer to the low 20s, and his scoring reflected that consistency. During the opening stretch of the season, he delivered several double figure scoring performances while functioning as a primary floor spacer alongside the Warriors’ second units. As the rotation tightened and younger guards absorbed larger roles, Hield’s usage rate dipped, but his shooting gravity has remained constant with
nearly 40 per cent of his shot attempts still coming from catch-and-shoot threes, which has always been one of his specialties. Hield’s most productive games this season show how he can still influence outcomes. On January 2 against Oklahoma City, with Golden State shorthanded, he scored 11 points in 24 minutes, knocking down three three-pointers on nine attempts while adding two rebounds and an assist. The Warriors posted a positive net rating during his time on the floor, aided by improved spacing and ball movement when he was on the wing. There have also been shorter bursts that highlight his usefulness. Against
Brooklyn in late December, Hield logged 11 minutes and finished with six points, three rebounds, two steals and a block. His defensive activity sparked a brief run that swung momentum, and his energy stood out during a stretch when the Warriors needed a lift. Hield has been open about embracing a role no longer defined solely by shot volume. “I just love my job,” he said earlier this season. “I want to be there for my teammates and show my team that I’m there for them no matter what. Everybody goes through situations differently. Being on the road, me being there with my positive energy,
HIELD - See Page E2
DOUBLE DOUBLE KING! Ayton scores 18 points and grabs 11 rebounds to help Lakers win
ON THE REPLAY: New Orleans Pelicans centre Derik Queen (22) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers centre Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton) SEE THE FULL STORY AND MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE E3
BLTA: Year 2025 showed steady progress in tennis development By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association reflected on 2025 as a year that produced major competitive results and showed positive steady progress in development areas across the sport. The BLTA recognised the work and sacrifice of administrators, sponsors, officials, coaches, parents, and players who contributed throughout the year. The top achievement of 2025 was the performance of the Bahamas Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams. Both teams finished
undefeated, posting 5-0 records in regional competition to capture gold medals and earn promotion. The Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup are the most prestigious team competitions in international tennis for men and women, and The Bahamas securing top spot in both events in the same year marked an historic moment for the programme. The Bahamas Davis Cup team competed against countries from the Caribbean and Central American region, including Cuba, Uruguay, Suriname, Panama, Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.
Across five ties, the team recorded 10 singles victories and three doubles wins. Denali Nottage went a perfect five-for-five in singles play. Donte Armbrister finished four-for-four in singles, while Michael Major Jr won his singles match. In doubles, pairings featuring Nottage, Armbrister, and Kofi Bowe delivered key wins that helped secure the overall result. Captain and former Davis Cup player and Hall of Famer John Antonas led the team. The Billie Jean King Cup team produced similar results. Bahamas finished the competition undefeated with eight singles wins and
three doubles victories. Simone Pratt and Sydney Clarke each recorded four singles victories. In doubles play, Jalisa Clarke teamed with Sydney Clarke for one win, while the pairing of Clarke and Pratt earned two victories. Former Billie Jean King Cup player and Hall of Famer Kim O’Kelley captained the team. The BLTA noted that both teams faced strong regional opponents and credited preparation and execution for the outcomes. As stated in the release, “Promotion comes from God,” as The Bahamas
BLTA - See Page E3