The Atlanta Hawks find themselves in the thick of a high-stakes postseason battle, currently deadlocked at 2–2 in an Eastern Conference first-round series against the New York Knicks. While the spotlight often shines on the high-flying youth of the roster, a key component of their locker room stability has been the mid-season arrival of Buddy Hield. The sharpshooter brought more than just elite floor spacing when he arrived from the Golden State Warriors in February; he brought the championship pedigree and the “iron-sharpens-iron” mentality of a veteran who has spent years in the trenches with some of the greatest winners in the history of the sport.
Stepping into a new system mid-stream is never easy, but Hield has navigated the transition with a quiet, observant confidence. He isn’t just another shooter on the wing; he is a bridge between the championship culture of the West and a hungry Hawks squad looking to make a deep run.
Ahead of the pivotal Game 5 tonight at Madison Square Garden, I caught up with Hield to discuss his transition to the A, his “fun pressure” philosophy for the postseason, the longevity of teammates like CJ McCollum, and the profound pride he takes in seeing the next generation of Bahamian talent—like VJ Edgecombe—take the league by storm.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You’ve made the transition from the Golden State Warriors to the Atlanta Hawks, and you’re stepping into this locker room as a seasoned playoff veteran. How have you embraced that leadership role on this team?
Buddy Hield: It’s just about playing my role, man. I’m letting my voice be heard. I learned a lot from Steph, Draymond, Steve [Kerr], and guys like Gary Payton II. I know how to get a message across, and I just hope I’m doing a good job with it here.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: I noticed you were a bit quiet in there earlier—just listening, observing, and putting the pieces together—but you definitely have that voice when you need to step out. How does it feel to share that wisdom with these younger guys as they move forward?
Buddy Hield: It’s fine, man. Of course, I want to be out there playing, but I’m glad I can share some wisdom to help them. The guys have been doing really well. We had a tough one Saturday, but we’re at 2–2 in the series, so we just have to keep building.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Does this series remind you of any specific playoff battles you’ve been in before?
Buddy Hield: Not really, because I’ve never actually been in a 2–2 series before. Back with Golden State, it always seemed like it was 3–1 or something else, but we had that one Game 7. You just have to buckle up. In the playoffs, nothing is easy, but it’s what I call “fun pressure.” I think the guys are ready for the challenge coming up.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: You played against CJ McCollum in the West for a myriad of years. Seeing him now as a teammate—does it surprise you that he’s still performing at this level at his age?
Buddy Hield: Man, when you take care of your body, there’s no such thing as “age” in the NBA. You see LeBron at 41 doing what he’s doing. You can’t measure the heart of a champion. CJ works just as hard to take care of himself, and he’s moving as well as anyone out there—if not the best.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: What is something I haven’t asked you about that you want to touch on?
Buddy Hield: Nothing! I don’t want to get myself in trouble [laughs].
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: [Laughs] Fair enough. Well, tell me about the charity work you’re doing. I know you’re very active back home.
Buddy Hield: I do a lot of giving back in the Bahamas—back-to-school drives with supplies for the kids, providing groceries, helping out during hurricane season, and all that. Whatever I can do to help, I’m there.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Last time we spoke, we talked about Bahamian representation in the league. DeAndre Ayton is really coming alive now for the Lakers, and you’ve got VJ Edgecombe out in Philly now. How cool is it to see that representation growing?
Buddy Hield: Yeah, it’s big. Even DJ, the young one in Philly, too.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: When did you first become familiar with VJ’s game?
Buddy Hield: He actually came to my camp when he was about 13 years old. He wanted to play with the 15 and 16-year-olds, and I was like, “Man, you’re too little!” But they told me he was really good, and when I watched him, I was like, “Who is this kid?” He always wanted to play with the big kids. He came in with so much joy, and we’ve been close ever since. I’m just glad to see him excelling.
As the interview wrapped up, Hield’s focus shifted back to the immediate task at hand. While he takes immense pride in his roots and the charity work that defines his off-court legacy, the “fun pressure” of a tied series is clearly what drives his competitive spirit right now. In a league that moves fast and changes rosters even faster, Hield’s veteran perspective serves as a stabilizing force for a Hawks team navigating the highs and lows of postseason basketball.
Tonight, the “World’s Most Famous Arena” serves as the backdrop for a series tiebreaker that could define the season for both franchises. Whether he’s coaching up a younger teammate during a timeout or hitting a momentum-swinging three, Buddy Hield remains one of the game’s most consistent professionals. As the series shifts back to Madison Square Garden for Game 5, one thing is certain: Hield isn’t just happy to be in the room—he’s here to ensure that when the final whistle blows, his team is the one left standing. With the Bahamas watching and the Atlanta faithful cheering, the sharpshooter is ready to turn that pressure into a deep playoff run.
