Buddy Hield Lands in Atlanta With a Golden Opportunity to Reignite His Career
Buddy Hield’s 2025-26 season has been a tough one, no two ways about it. Once one of the NBA’s most reliable perimeter threats, the veteran sharpshooter has seen his production dip and his role shrink-culminating in a trade deadline move that sent him packing from Golden State. But now, with a new jersey and a new opportunity in Atlanta, Hield has a chance to rewrite the narrative.
The Hawks acquired Hield in the same deal that saw Jonathan Kuminga and Kristaps Porzingis change teams. On paper, Hield may have looked like a throw-in. But dig a little deeper, and there’s a real chance for him to carve out a meaningful role in Atlanta’s rotation-especially given the Hawks’ recent roster shakeup.
Atlanta dealt away Vit Krejci and Luke Kennard at the deadline, effectively parting with their top two pure shooters. That opens the door wide for Hield to step in and do what he does best: stretch the floor and keep defenses honest. And while his numbers this season haven’t lived up to his usual standards-he’s shooting just 34.4% from deep, the lowest mark of his career-there’s reason to believe a fresh start could be exactly what he needs.
Let’s be clear: Hield isn’t being asked to be something he’s not. Atlanta doesn’t need him to run the offense or create off the dribble.
They’ve already got capable ball-handlers who can initiate sets and draw attention. What they do need is a guy who can move without the ball, find pockets of space, and knock down open shots.
That’s Hield’s wheelhouse. He’s built a career on off-ball movement, quick-trigger shooting, and spacing the floor.
And with the Hawks still very much in the playoff hunt, they’re going to need every bit of that skill set.
This isn’t just about filling a role-it’s about timing. The Hawks don’t have their first-round pick this year (it belongs to the Spurs), so there’s no incentive to tank or play the long game.
They’re in win-now mode, and that urgency could play to Hield’s advantage. If he can regain even a fraction of his old form, he’ll be a valuable piece in Atlanta’s postseason push.
Yes, Hield’s stint in Philadelphia didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet-or the fanbase. But every player hits a rough patch.
What matters now is how he responds. And in Atlanta, he’s got a real shot to remind the league why he’s one of the most prolific three-point shooters of the past decade.
The opportunity is there. Now it’s up to Buddy Hield to take it.