SPORTS SECTION E
Thursday, January 8, 2026
NFL PLAYOFFS - Page E8
Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield: ‘I just love my job’ By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield entered the 2025-26 season with the Golden State Warriors as a veteran shooter expected to provide spacing and bench scoring. Over the course of the season, his role has shifted from a more regular rotation player to a specialised, situational contributor, yet the core value he brings to the Warriors’ franchise remains evident. This evolution reflects both roster complexity and the Warriors’ emphasis on younger players earning longer stretches, but Hield’s presence has
continued to provide stability on the floor. Through early January, with the Warriors holding a 19-16 record, Hield, 33, is averaging 7.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in approximately 17.8 minutes per night. He is shooting 41.9 per cent from the field, 32.4 per cent from three-point range and 87 per cent from the free throw line. His effective field goal percentage sits just under 55 per cent, reflecting that the majority of his attempts come from behind the arc or right at the rim in transition. He is also averaging just under one steal per game while committing fewer than one turnover per game, showing his efficiency within a low-usage role.
BUDDY HIELD By comparison, last season he averaged 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in just over 25 minutes per game while shooting 42 per cent from the field and 38 per cent
from three, numbers that reflect a much larger offensive role and more consistent minutes. The decline in raw production this season is closely tied to opportunity rather than effectiveness. Earlier in the season, Hield’s minutes hovered closer to the low 20s, and his scoring reflected that consistency. During the opening stretch of the season, he delivered several double figure scoring performances while functioning as a primary floor spacer alongside the Warriors’ second units. As the rotation tightened and younger guards absorbed larger roles, Hield’s usage rate dipped, but his shooting gravity has remained constant with
nearly 40 per cent of his shot attempts still coming from catch-and-shoot threes, which has always been one of his specialties. Hield’s most productive games this season show how he can still influence outcomes. On January 2 against Oklahoma City, with Golden State shorthanded, he scored 11 points in 24 minutes, knocking down three three-pointers on nine attempts while adding two rebounds and an assist. The Warriors posted a positive net rating during his time on the floor, aided by improved spacing and ball movement when he was on the wing. There have also been shorter bursts that highlight his usefulness. Against
Brooklyn in late December, Hield logged 11 minutes and finished with six points, three rebounds, two steals and a block. His defensive activity sparked a brief run that swung momentum, and his energy stood out during a stretch when the Warriors needed a lift. Hield has been open about embracing a role no longer defined solely by shot volume. “I just love my job,” he said earlier this season. “I want to be there for my teammates and show my team that I’m there for them no matter what. Everybody goes through situations differently. Being on the road, me being there with my positive energy,
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DOUBLE DOUBLE KING! Ayton scores 18 points and grabs 11 rebounds to help Lakers win
ON THE REPLAY: New Orleans Pelicans centre Derik Queen (22) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers centre Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton) SEE THE FULL STORY AND MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE E3
BLTA: Year 2025 showed steady progress in tennis development By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association reflected on 2025 as a year that produced major competitive results and showed positive steady progress in development areas across the sport. The BLTA recognised the work and sacrifice of administrators, sponsors, officials, coaches, parents, and players who contributed throughout the year. The top achievement of 2025 was the performance of the Bahamas Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams. Both teams finished
undefeated, posting 5-0 records in regional competition to capture gold medals and earn promotion. The Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup are the most prestigious team competitions in international tennis for men and women, and The Bahamas securing top spot in both events in the same year marked an historic moment for the programme. The Bahamas Davis Cup team competed against countries from the Caribbean and Central American region, including Cuba, Uruguay, Suriname, Panama, Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.
Across five ties, the team recorded 10 singles victories and three doubles wins. Denali Nottage went a perfect five-for-five in singles play. Donte Armbrister finished four-for-four in singles, while Michael Major Jr won his singles match. In doubles, pairings featuring Nottage, Armbrister, and Kofi Bowe delivered key wins that helped secure the overall result. Captain and former Davis Cup player and Hall of Famer John Antonas led the team. The Billie Jean King Cup team produced similar results. Bahamas finished the competition undefeated with eight singles wins and
three doubles victories. Simone Pratt and Sydney Clarke each recorded four singles victories. In doubles play, Jalisa Clarke teamed with Sydney Clarke for one win, while the pairing of Clarke and Pratt earned two victories. Former Billie Jean King Cup player and Hall of Famer Kim O’Kelley captained the team. The BLTA noted that both teams faced strong regional opponents and credited preparation and execution for the outcomes. As stated in the release, “Promotion comes from God,” as The Bahamas
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Local Sports Calendar T-BIRD FLYERS CLASSIC THE T-Bird Flyers Track Club will hold the first track and field meet for the new year over the weekend of January 9-10 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The patron for the event is the late Gregory Clarke. The event will begin at 6pm on Friday, January 9 and conclude on Saturday, January 10, starting at noon. All age group categories for men and women will be contested. Interested persons can contact coaches Foster Dorsett at 427-3883 for more information. BASEBALL MARIO FORD CAMP THE annual Mario Ford Baseball Camp will begin on Saturday,
January 10 at Windsor Park. The camp, which is designed for boys and girls between the ages of 4-16 years, will be staged every Saturday between the hours of 9:30-11:30am until Saturday, April 18. Interested persons are urged to contact camp director Mario Bowleg at 556-0993 for more information. ROAD RACE MAJORITY RULE RUN THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations will hold the Majority Day Fun Run/ Walk Race on Monday, January 12, starting at 6am from Arawak Cay. There will be a three kilometre walk and run and a 5K run at a cost of $25 per person. The first 900
registrants will receive a t-shirt. All participants will collect a medal and the top three finishers will get a trophy. Early registration deadline is Friday, January 9 at 11:59pm and late registration is Saturday, January 10 at 11:5 pm at a cost of $30 each. DTSP WOLFPACK MEET THE DTSP Wolfpack Track Club will hold the meet on Saturday, January 17, at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium, starting at 9am. The event is being held under the patronage of Alexander Doyle Burrows, former manager of the stadium and a long-time manager of various national teams that represented The Bahamas
in international competitions. Interested persons can contact coach Larry Clarke at 425-7417 for more details. ROAD RACE MACEDONIA 60TH ANNIVERSARY RACE AS a part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Macedonia Baptist Church on Bernard Road, Fox Hill, will stage a Family Fun Run/Walk Race, which is open to the general public. The dual event will take place on Saturday, January 24, starting at 6am. The walk race will leave the church and head west on Bernard Road to Village Road, turn around and head back east on Bernard Road to the church. The run will leave the church and head west on Bernard Road to Village Road, turn onto Soldier Road, head to Prince Charles Drive, onto Fox Hill Road and west on Bernard Road back to the church. The registration fee is $10 for the men and women 15-and-under, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under, 60-and-over and Ministers/ Pastors. Interested persons can whatsapp or call Brent Stubbs at 426-7265 or call the church at 324-1583 for more information. SWIMMING BA KICK OFF MEET THE Bahamas Aquatics will begin the new year with its New Year Kick Off Meet over the weekend of January 23-24 at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex. The event will begin on Friday at 6pm and continue on Saturday at 9am. TRACK MEET STAR TRACKERS THE Star Trackers Track Club will hold its Star
Performers Track Classic on Saturday, January 24 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The event will begin at 9am and will feature competition for men and women in all age groups. Interested persons can contact Laura Charlton at 357-3109 for more information. BLTA SEASON OPENER THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association will begin the new year with an under-14 and under-16 tournament at the National Tennis Centre over the weekend of January 23-24. The event is expected to attract the top male and female players in those age groups as they compete for their national ranking. CYCLING RIDE FOR EXUMA THE Bahamas Cycling Federation will kick off its calendar year with the Ride for Exuma on January 24, starting at 8am in Georgetown. The event will enable competitors to view the turquoise waters and breathtaking landscapes of Exuma. SIXTH RED-LINE SONJA KNOWLES CLASSIC THE Red-Line Athletics Track Club’s sixth annual Sonja Knowles Track Classic will be held over the weekend of January 31 to February 1 at the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Classic. The event will begin at 10am on Saturday, January 31 and continue on Sunday, February 1 at 1pm. The categories for men and women will begin from under-7 to the masters.
Interested persons can contact coach Tito Moss at 425-4262 for more information. BBSF FAMILY FUN RUN/WALK THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation will hold its annual Family Fun Run/ Walk Race on Saturday, February 26, starting at 6am from the Bahamas Baptist College on Jean Street. The run will leave Jean Street and head north to Bernard Road, turn left onto Bernard Road and head to Village Road, turn left onto Soldier Road, turn left onto Prince Charles Drive, turn left onto Fox Hill Road and turn left onto Bernard Road, heading back to the church. The registration fee is $10 per person in both the men and women 15-and-under, 20-and-under, 40-and-under, 60-and-under and 60-and-over as well as the Ministers/Pastors. Interested persons can call Brent Stubbs at 4267265 for more information. BAHAMAS CLIMB UP THE RANKINGS FOLLOWING the men’s runners-up position at the Caribbean Baseball Cup last month, The Bahamas has moved up to number 40 on the World Baseball/Softball Confederation standings. The Bahamas is the highest ranking English-speaking country in the Caribbean and is sandwiched between Costa Rica at No.39 and the US Virgin Islands at No.41. The standings, headed by Japan, Chinese Taipei and the United States of America in the top three, was released last month.
Buddy’s presence ‘continues to provide stability’ for the Golden State Warriors HIELD - from Page E1 attitude and effort helps us get through it.” That mindset has resonated inside the locker room. That perspective reflects how far Hield has come since entering the league as a rookie with the New Orleans Pelicans. During his rookie season in 201617, he averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while adjusting to NBA pace and physicality. His role at the time was still developing, and much of his value was tied directly to scoring opportunities and learning how to find his place in a professional rotation. Hield’s growth became most evident during his most productive stretch in the league with the Sacramento Kings. In the 2019-20 season, widely regarded as his peak year statistically, he averaged 19.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting over 39 percent from three on high volume. That season established him as one of the league’s elite high-volume shooters and
marked the point where he transitioned from a young scorer into a proven offensive weapon. The contrast between that version of Hield and his current role highlights his evolution rather than his decline. Head coach Steve Kerr has consistently expressed trust in Hield despite fluctuating minutes. After a win in which Hield recorded nine points and seven rebounds, Kerr pointed to his readiness and professionalism, noting that Hield stays prepared regardless of when his number is called. Kerr has also acknowledged that competition for minutes has increased, but preparation and trust keep Hield firmly in the mix. Teammates have echoed similar sentiments. Jimmy Butler, who joined the Warriors midseason, spoke about Hield’s presence during a recent road trip. “Buddy’s energy is always there,” Butler said. “He’s smiling, talking, keeping everybody loose. That matters over a long season. When his name is called, he’s ready, and we feed off that.”
Other teammates have pointed to his communication and experience. One Warriors guard noted that Hield is constantly talking on defence and encouraging younger players, even during stretches when he is on the bench. Another teammate described him as “a pro’s pro,” adding that Hield’s shooting reputation alone changes how defences are set, even on nights when he takes only a handful of shots. Overall, Buddy Hield’s 2025-26 season reflects a clear shift in role rather than a decline in value. He has come a long way from being a rookie scorer learning on the fly to a veteran who understands nuance and meaningful impact. His minutes are more situational than earlier in the year, but he still provides the spacing, efficiency, defensive effort and veteran-ship the Warriors need. When opportunities arise, his stats show he can still deliver productive performances, reinforcing why the Warriors continue to rely on his role on the team as the season progresses.
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Thursday, January 8, 2026, PAGE 3
THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association reflected on 2025 as a year that produced major competitive results and showed positive steady progress in development areas across tennis.
BLTA: Year 2025 showed steady progress in tennis development BLTA - from Page E1 moves to Zone II in the Billie Jean King Cup and Zone III in the Davis Cup in 2026.Another major milestone in 2025 was achieved off the court in September when The Bahamas hosted its first-ever regional International Tennis Federation Level 2 White Badge Referee School. The five-day course featured officials from the United States, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and The Bahamas. The BLTA
emphasized that officiating schools are designed to strengthen tennis at all levels, from grassroots competition to Grand Slam events. The hosting of the course reflected confidence from the International Tennis Federation in The Bahamas as a capable host for regional education and certification. The officiating school also produced an historic achievement for The Bahamas as Esther Newton became the first female White Badge referee in Bahamian history and the
first White Badge official from The Bahamas in more than 20 years. White Badge referees are among the most respected officials in the sport worldwide. Newton, who has worked in tennis administration and officiating for more than a decade, was endorsed by former White Badge referee Mickey Williams, who achieved the distinction more than two decades ago. The BLTA stated that strengthening the officiating pool is essential to supporting competitive play
and tournament standards across the country. Coaching development was another focus area in 2025. The BLTA hosted a coaching certification course that resulted in 12 Bahamians becoming newly certified coaches including Simone Pratt, Donte Armbrister, Sierra Donaldson, Anthony Burrows Jr, Elanqua Griffin, Shaneicka Griffin, Genesis Sweeting, Rachel Thompson, Donesha Gibson, Theophilus Weir, Cailan Bowe, and Edward Turner. The BLTA noted that expanding the
number of trained coaches has a direct impact on player participation and long-term development. The BLTA expressed thanks for the resources that made the course possible and emphasized that coach education remains a key part of its development strategy. BLTA president Perry Newton was elected by the General Assembly of COTECC to serve as a director on the Board of Directors for the 2025–2027 term. The appointment gives The
Bahamas representation at the regional decision-making level and reflects the Association’s growing role within Caribbean and Central American tennis. The BLTA concluded that the achievements of 2025 demonstrate continued progress across competition, officiating and coaching. The Association stated that these results reflect growth in Bahamas tennis and reaffirm its commitment to sustainable development, guided by faith and longterm planning.
Matkovic's free throws gave New Orleans an 83-74 lead late in the third quarter. James' three free throws and breakaway dunk quickly trimmed the Lakers' deficit to four before Murphy, who had 20 points in the third quarter, hit a driving reverse scoop as he was fouled to make it 86-79 heading to the final period. Herb Jones,
returning from a right ankle injury that has sidelined him seven games, struggled with his shooting, missing eight of nine shots. The Pelicans missed five of their 18 free throws, with Williamson missing four. The Lakers also finished shooting 50.6% (43 of 85). The Pelicans shot 44% (40 of 91) and missed 30 of the 40 3-pointers they attempted.
Centre Deandre Ayton produces double double to help Lakers hold off the Pelicans 111-103 By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — LeBron James scored 30 points, Luca Doncic capped his 30-point, 10-assist performance with a pair of off-balance, bail-out 3s as the shot clock wound down, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the reeling New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Tuesday night. Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the fourth time in their past five games while sending the Pelicans to their eighth straight loss. Trey Murphy scored a career-high 41, Zion Williamson scored 15 points and rookie Derik Queen had 10 points and 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which led by as many as nine points late in the third quarter. The Lakers opened the fourth quarter on a 18-4 run
PELICANS guard Jeremiah Fears (0) gets fouled by Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) next to centre Deandre Ayton and forward Jarred Vanderbilt, right, during the first half on Tuesday night. RIGHT: Ayton shoots over Pelicans centre Derik Queen (22) (AP Photos/Matthew Hinton) that included two deep 3s by paint by Ayton. The surge get closer than four after James, a 3 by Dalton Knecht put Los Angeles up 97-90 that. Neither team led by and a pair of baskets in the and the Pelicans could not more than seven until Karlo
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Thursday, January 8, 2026, PAGE 5