SACRAMENTO, CA - Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield has been named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in March, the NBA announced today.

Acquired by Sacramento in a trade on February 19, the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft averaged 14.1 points (.483 FG%, .425 3pt%, .840 FT%), 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.93 steals in 16 March appearances (12 starts), including career-highs with 22 points (7-14 FG, 4-9 3pt, 4-4), eight rebounds and seven assists at Golden State (3/24). The former Oklahoma Sooner registered 10-plus points in 14 of the Kings 16 games in March while posting 20 or more points on two occasions.

The 6-4 guard and Freeport, Bahamas native ranks fourth among all rookies this season in scoring, seventh in field goal percentage and minutes played and fifth in 3-point percentage. He has made at least three-pointers in 19 contests and reached double-figures in scoring on 40 occasions. The accolade marks Hield’s second Rookie of the Month this season after earning December honors as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Hield is the sixth Kings player to earn Rookie of the Month honors and first since Ben McLemore won the award in November of 2013.



