Hield, Ayton make Preseason Debuts

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Bahamian NBA players Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers and Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns both saw their first action of the 2022-23 NBA season in a pair of preseason games, Wednesday night.

Hield played 20 minutes, scoring 7 points on 3-8 shooting and making 1 of his 4 three point attempts. He also added 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.

Fellow Bahamian Kai Jones lined up against Hield for the opposition Charlotte Hornets, he had 1 point and 2 rebounds.

Hield was traded to the Pacers at last year’s deadline from the Sacramento Kings for all-star big man Domantis Sabonis, and although the Pacers’ did not fair well, finishing the season with 25 wins and 57 losses, Hield’s numbers improved across the board, giving the team reason to believe that this season will be better than last year.

Deandre Ayton also made his debut against Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The center scored 7 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 25 minutes of action. He also recorded 2 steals and 1 block.

Ayton and the Suns are coming off a roller coaster of an offseason that saw Ayton reach an agreement to join Hield and the Pacers in restricted free agency before the Suns shut it down matching the Pacers’ offer.

Then the team’s owner became embroiled in a workplace racism and sexual harassment scandal that resulted in a yearlong suspension and a subsequent announcement that Sarver will sell the team. 

Hield’s next game will be against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Friday while Ayton and the Suns will take on the Nuggets in Phoenix on Monday.