New Orleans Pelicans Select Hield, Find Anthony Davis A Buddy

The New Orleans Pelicans selected Buddy Hield with the 6th overall pick in the NBA Draft tonight.

Fans watched anxiously as the draft had a few early surprises (Jaylen Brown going 3rd overall to Boston).

With Kris Dunn falling to to 5th overall, it gave the Pelicans options.

Trade the pick? Draft Jamal Murray? Or Select Buddy Hield?

The Pels went with the experience and scoring of Hield, who at 22 years old is one of the rare first round picks who played 4 years of college ball.

As a senior last season at Oklahoma, Hield won the Wooden Award as the Naismith College Player of the Year.

He's a talented shooter who averaged 25 points a game last season.

"He's (Hield) a self-made guy, a guy we targeted," said Pelicans GM Dell Demps. "We're excited to have him."

Growing up in the Bahamas, Hield shot a basketball throw a milk crate attached to a phone poll.

He shared a bedroom with 6 siblings.

“My Mom kept us (the family) strong," said Hield as his parents stood by with big smiles and new Pelicans hats on. "A big shoutout to my Mom for keeping us together.”

Many Bahama natives followed his collegiate career at Oklahoma. They all became New Orleans Pelicans fans on Thursday night.