Lakers get an up-close look at Buddy Hield during pre-draft workout

The workout was over, but Buddy Hield wasn’t satisfied.

Moments before, Hield stepped inside the three-point line in the Lakers’ practice facility at the Toyota Sports Complex and watched a mid-range jumper roll off the rim.

“Come on, Buddy Fresh!” he yelled to himself in the quiet gym. After finishing with four more misses, he asked to go around the perimeter one more time. Then he missed three shots in the next round and asked for another. Then he dialed in, swishing threes like the Buddy Hield who stretched and scorched defenses at Oklahoma, and finally called it a day.

“As a shooter you never be satisfied,” Hield said. “You chase perfection when shooting the ball.”

If that sounds familiar, it may be because Hield has spent some time with Kobe Bryant during the pre-draft process. Hield said he and Bryant had a two-hour workout, and that Bryant taught him about footwork, creating space and the importance of opponent scouting. For Hield, who’s from the Bahamas and shot up NBA draft boards during a senior season filled with excitement and efficiency, working with Bryant was realizing a childhood dream.

“Kobe has a busy schedule. Whenever he has a chance to hit me up and has time to work me out, then we got to work out again,” Hield said. “... It was a dream come true, especially me not just as a young man, but being a kid and watching Kobe Bryant all my whole life and finally getting to meet him.”

That’s not Hield’s only connection to a former Laker. He said he keeps in close touch with Mychal Thompson and Rick Fox — Thompson was born in the Bahamas, and Fox moved there with his Bahamian parents when he was a young kid — and said it was special to work out where so many great players have trained over the years.

It was Hield’s second workout with the Lakers, and his last before the draft on Thursday. He also worked out with the Celtics, Pelicans, Timberwolves and Suns, but the Lakers are the only team that saw him twice.

“I’m sure [Thompson is] hoping that I’ll land here because he’s a Laker,” Hield said. “All of the Bahamanians that came here, Rick Fox, Mychal Thompson, they all won championships. You never know what could come from me.”

Hield doesn’t pay much attention to mock drafts or analysts. He said “most of those guys those guys never really touched a basketball,” and that general managers will know what their teams need. By that logic, Hield said he thinks he could go to the Lakers second overall, even if it’s likely the Lakers will select whoever the Philadelphia 76ers don’t between LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram.

But Hield has already worked out with Bryant, traveled the country to showcase his talents to NBA teams and, no matter what, will walk across the stage to shake Commissioner Adam Silver’s hand on Thursday night.

Childhood dreams no longer feel too far out of reach.

“You know the Lakers are losing Kobe, they need a scorer, so why not? You know? Why not come in and fill the spot?” Hield said. “You know I’m a confident player and I’ve been under pressure my whole life just overcoming obstacles.

“And I know L.A. … and everybody with the Lakers, they expect to win. I’m prepared to come in expecting to win right away.”