Hield grew up in Freeport, Bahamas. Jonquel Jones, his fellow Bahamian and now an MVP winner in the WNBA, has been friends with Hield since they were kids. She wrote about how if he missed the bus to practice, he would just run six miles to the gym. He said those humble beginnings made him who he is today.
“It made me hungry. I made me a better basketball player by working, and it made me hungry because of things I never had,” Hield said.
Ayton is grateful for how Bahamian players in the NBA have each other, and are showing the world what the Bahamas can offer.
“It shows that our Bahamian people are truly out here and doing their thing and I’m just happy to be a part of that, coming from a small island. Having NBA players like me, Buddy, Gordon, meeting up with them in the NBA at the highest level possible and representing our country together is insane,” Ayton said.