MIAMI (United States) - Buddy Hield is ready to be a hero to his people.

The Freeport native will suit up for Bahamas during the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers and his arrival couldn’t have come at a better time.

Moses Johnson’s squad will face the Virgin Islands in Saint Thomas on Friday, with a win all but securing their spot in the next round.

“It’s fun, we’re coming together and it’s probably one of the first times we get to practice for a couple of days or more than a week so I’m excited, and excited to make the next step,” said Hield.

The Indiana Pacers shooting guard will represent his country for the first time since 2018, when he competed in the qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup, and clearly understands the stakes.

“When that jersey comes on it’s a different feeling and people play different ways, and they play really hard,” he said. “We’re ready for the challenge ahead. We’ve never been in this situation before.”

Bahamas (1-4) is currently in third place in Group C after defeating ISV in the February window.

Hield added he’s been trying to teach and instill in his teammates “a mindset that any game is winnable.”

His presence obviously makes it more likely, as he’s coming off a 2021-22 season where he averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists between the Pacers and Sacramento Kings.

However, he knows the international game can be very different from the NBA, both in the rulebook and the way it’s officiated.

“It’s not going to be a trigger-happy whistle,” Hield said. “They’re going to let you play through contact and there will be a lot of frustration, but it’s fun basketball, like the type you play in the park.”

The 29-year-old Hield is coming off a down season when it comes to his shooting percentages, as he only shot a combined 40.6 percent from the field and 36.6 from beyond the arc.

But a midseason trade to the Eastern Conference seemed to reinvigorate his career, with a bigger role in Rick Carlisle’s system as one of the veterans in an increasingly young roster.

Now focused on National Team duty, Hield can’t wait to shine for Bahamas and put on a show for the fans. 

“I haven’t played in front of a home crowd since I was in high school in the Bahamas, so a long, long time,” he said. “I can’t wait, family will be there, friends will be there and it’s a great opportunity to show the Bahamian people what we’re capable of doing. Hopefully we can get a win out there.”

The sharpshooter won’t be alone on the court either, of course.

Travis Munnings is a constant triple-double threat and the only player in the competition averaging at least 7 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Davis Nesbitt is averaging 15.0 points a game, while Mychel Thompson (son of legendary NBA legend Mychal Thompson and brother of current NBA champion Klay Thompson) averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds.

More than anything, Hield wants to be a source of inspiration for an island nation of fewer than 400,000 people. Advancing to the next round would mean being among the 12 best countries in the continent, an incredible achievement for Bahamas.

“Coming from the islands, the odds are very slim,” he said. “Being born and raised down there, people have seen me walk those streets, seen me work my butt off each and every day to get there. If I can do it, they can do it too.”

FIBA