Warriors guard Buddy Hield says Sacramento still ‘special’ to him despite hot mic remarks

Former Kings guard Buddy Hield says he was joking when he got caught saying something obscene about Sacramento in a “hot mic” moment after being traded to the Indiana Pacers.

Hield has been booed in Sacramento ever since. He was booed again when he returned as a member of the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday to face the Kings in their preseason opener at Golden 1 Center, but he said Sacramento will always be special to him.

“This is kind of where my career started and where I kind of made a name for myself,” Hield said. “I’ll never forget where it all started.”

In an exclusive interview with The Sacramento Bee, Hield expressed his appreciation for Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, former general manager Vlade Divac and Kings fans.

Hield spent six seasons with the Kings before he was traded to the Indiana Pacers along with Tyrese Haliburton in the deal that brought Sabonis to Sacramento. Hield made a franchise-record 1,248 3-point goals in 385 games for the Kings.

One of Hield’s Indiana teammates was being interviewed before a game against the Boston Celtics in December 2022 when Hield was overheard in the background saying Sacramento could perform a certain act on a certain part of his anatomy.

Hield, who is known for his raw and unfiltered sense of humor, said his remarks don’t reflect his true feelings about the city.

“I’ll always love Sacramento,” Hield said. “Sacramento is kind of where my career started. I always thank Vlade and Vivek for reaching out and giving me an opportunity to come play for the city and this organization.

“My comments are my comments. I can’t take them back, but when you have a mic open, friendly conversation with your friends, and a hot mic catches you, you can’t take that back. I’ve got to take that on the chin, but I love Sacramento. The fans are great. I think one of the best fan bases not only in America but in the whole basketball world.”

Golden State acquired Hield over the summer in the six-team trade that sent Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks. In his first trip to Sacramento as a member of the Warriors, Hield came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points in a 122-112 preseason victory over the Kings. He went 8 of 9 from the field and 6 of 7 from 3-point range in 19 minutes.

Hield said he has fond memories of his years in Sacramento.

“Every time I come to Sacramento, I always hit up my favorite donut spot or go to my favorite restaurants,” Hield said. “Some of my favorite restaurants are in Sacramento: Frank Fat’s, Kru, Fixins. When I come here, I have my spots I have to hit up, so Sacramento will always have a special place in my heart.”