Buddy Hield believes Pacers ‘f****d up his money’ with tanking strategy years ago

Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield says his time with the Indiana Pacers took a frustrating turn during a late-season tanking stretch that he believes negatively impacted his earning potential, highlighting broader concerns around the NBA’s ongoing tanking problem.

In a report published Wednesday by Anthony Slater of ESPN, Hield reflected on his experience in Indiana, where he expected to secure a long-term role with the franchise. Instead, a shift in team priorities late in the season altered his role and, in his view, his market value.

Slater reported that Hield considered head coach Rick Carlisle a mentor, noting that Carlisle visited him multiple times and expressed confidence that the organization would reward him in the offseason. However, the Pacers later reduced Hield’s minutes and moved him to the bench as part of a broader strategy aimed at improving draft positioning — a tactic central to the league’s ongoing debate over tanking.

“It was an extension year,” Hield said. “Then when it comes to extension talks, it was like, ‘Oh, the numbers, X, Y, Z.’”

Hield indicated that the shift impacted how he was evaluated during contract discussions.

“It f—ed up the money,” Hield said. “Me and Rick are still close, but that really rubbed me in the wrong way. Tanking just f—ed everything up for everybody.”

Buddy Hield’s Pacers experience highlights tanking’s impact on player value

The veteran guard suggested that the decision to limit his role came at a critical point in his career, potentially altering the trajectory of his late prime. His experience reflects a growing concern across the NBA that tanking strategies — often designed to improve draft positioning — can come at the expense of player development, performance evaluation and contract outcomes.

Despite Hield’s frustration, the Pacers ultimately benefited from their approach. The organization improved its draft position and reshaped its roster, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals in consecutive seasons before reaching the NBA Finals in 2025.

Hield was later traded in February 2024 as part of a three-team deal involving the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Antonio Spurs. In the transaction, the 76ers acquired Hield, while Indiana received Furkan Korkmaz, Doug McDermott, two second-round picks and cash considerations. The Spurs received Marcus Morris along with a future second-round pick and cash.

Hield has since continued his career with the Golden State Warriors, but his comments underscore the tension between organizational strategy and individual opportunity, adding to the league-wide conversation about the long-term impact of tanking on players and competitive integrity.

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