Over the summer, the Philadelphia 76ers decided to move on from sharpshooter Buddy Hield via a sign-and-trade, which sent the veteran to the Golden State Warriors.

Throughout the preseason, Hield has been making some impressive shots, doing what he does best. In the veteran’s official regular season debut with Golden State, Hield caught fire on the court in limited playing time against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Wednesday night, Hield took the bench for a 15-minute shift. He took eight shots from the field, seven of which came from beyond the arc.

Hield knocked down all but two of his threes. He finished the game 8-10 from the field, scoring 22 points.

Despite coming off the bench, Hield led the Warriors in scoring against the Blazers. Andrew Wiggins was second on the team, scoring 20 points in 23 minutes. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry had a low-key double-double, producing 17 points and ten assists, one rebound away from a double-double.

The Warriors dominated the Trail Blazers 139-104 to move to 1-0 on the year. For veteran Hield, it was a great first impression of his new team.

Last season, Hield had to make a first impression on the Philadelphia 76ers in February. After entering another season with the Indiana Pacers, Hield entered his contract year knowing a trade could be on the horizon if an extension didn’t happen.

Sure enough, Hield was dealt to the Sixers at the 2024 trade deadline. At first, the Sixers saw a potential long-term deal with Hield. Over time, the narrative has changed.

Hield would finish the 2023-24 regular season with 32 games played. He produced 12 points per game on 39 percent shooting from three. By the time the Sixers reached the playoffs, Hield did not have a consistent role in Nick Nurse’s rotation. He appeared in four of six games, seeing the court 13 minutes per game.

The veteran entered free agency with a lack of interest from Philadelphia. Still, the Sixers helped facilitate a trade by signing Hield and sending him to the Warriors in what became a six-team deal. Over the next four seasons, Hield could earn more than $37 million with the Warriors.