By Mallory Mattingly
Golden State Warriors shooting guard Buddy Hield has provided the spark his team needed to advance in the NBA Western Conference Finals, and it’s because he has God on his side.
Before Hield was traded to the Warriors, he had only four postseason games under his belt. Now, he has eight, and one of those includes a win-or-go-home Game 7.
In that game, Hield went off for the Warriors, scoring 11 three-pointers and going 12-15 from the field. He scored 33 points and even made a half-court buzzer-beater.
“It’s a childhood dream,” the athlete said in a press conference after the Game 7 win. “We all talk about Game 7s. We all want to play in Game 7s, but actually playing in a Game 7 and preparing for it is one of the hardest things ever.”
“Just trying to find my joy,” he added. “I’ve never been in this situation before. Just trying to seize the moment…Tonight was fun. All glory to God.”
In an on-court interview after the win, Hield told TNT’s INSIDE THE NBA broadcasters how much his faith has helped him this season.
“All glory to God, man,” he declared. “Without Him, this would not be possible. I was really locked in, just keeping my mind right and just talking to God and knowing I had to come through and help my team.”
Hield often uses his social media platform to tell others about his faith.
His X and Instagram bios feature Philippians 4:13. He also includes Proverbs 3:5-6 as his cover photo on X. The verse reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
After the Warriors advanced to the second round of the playoffs, Hield took to his Instagram and shared several photos from the series.
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“We Prayed for this Pressure!” he wrote in the caption.
He reads a regimen of chapters from the Bible ahead of big games to prepare.
“Psalm 23 is the one I always read, the main one before my games,” he told Sports Spectrum. “My mom always told me to read that when I was nervous or before a big game. I also like Psalm 91, 27, 35, and 37. I read them before every game. I’m trying to get my mind right.”
Hield hopes to continue his postseason play as the Warriors face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Though victory isn’t sure, Hield will certainly be reading his Bible before he steps onto the court.
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