By Sunday 
The Warriors may no longer have “Game 6 Klay” to lean on, but on Sunday night, they might have stumbled upon a new postseason legend — enter Buddy Hield, now forever known as “Game 7 Buddy.”
A Star is Born in the Spotlight
When the lights were at their brightest and the stakes couldn’t be higher, Buddy Hield delivered the performance of his career. Scoring a playoff-best 33 points, Hield knocked down nine three-pointers, tying Donte DiVincenzo’s all-time record for most threes made in a Game 7.
He wasn’t just hot — he was historic. Hield also became the first player in Game 7 history to drop 30 points without a single free throw attempt. That’s pure shooting, folks.
Making History Early and Often
Six of Hield’s nine threes came in the first half alone — a new Game 7 record — and incredibly, that was four more than the entire Rockets team combined before halftime.
That early barrage proved vital. With Stephen Curry struggling through a 1-of-7 shooting start, it was Hield who carried the load and kept Golden State in control.
Curry himself acknowledged the impact:
“I’m happy for him,” Curry said postgame. “He works so hard all year. I’ve got to know him a little bit, and you can see how much basketball means to him. This is only his second playoff run, and for him to have a game like that in Game 7 — to set a record for most threes — it’s pretty special.”
From Benchwarmer to Game-Changer
Hield began the series coming off the bench, averaging just 8.0 points on 42% shooting through the first three games. But when coach Steve Kerr handed him a starting role, Hield flourished. Over the rest of the series, he averaged 13.0 points and shot 50%, while also stepping up on defense.
That trust clearly paid off — and likely earned him a permanent spot in the starting five for the next round against the Timberwolves.
A Home in the Bay?
A well-traveled veteran, Hield has spent his career bouncing from city to city, trying to find the right fit. But after Sunday’s heroics, it’s safe to say he might’ve finally found a long-term home in Golden State.
He’s under contract through the 2027–28 season, and if this version of “Game 7 Buddy” becomes the norm, Warriors fans will be more than happy to keep him around.
Sometimes, it only takes one game to change a narrative — and Buddy Hield just wrote his.