The University of Oklahoma commemorated former star Buddy Hield by retiring his jersey during a game against Texas A&M on Saturday in Norman. The ceremony recognized Hield’s impact on the Oklahoma basketball program, while NBA player Trae Young shared his respect for Hield in a social media post.
Young expressed his admiration on X, formerly Twitter, saying,
“Shoutout (Buddy Hield) for #24 going up in the rafters!!! Remember when he was #3 as a freshman haha… Gods Amazing Brother!!! College Basketball Legend! Congrats,”
highlighting Hield’s legacy among Oklahoma’s greatest athletes.
Buddy Hield’s Achievements at Oklahoma Highlighted
Hield, a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year, played a major role in leading the Sooners to the Final Four during his senior season in 2016. His outstanding performance that year included an impressive 25 points per game average, anchoring Oklahoma’s deep NCAA tournament run.
One of Hield’s standout moments came in a triple-overtime loss to No. 1 Kansas, when he scored 46 points. Later that season, he was named the NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player after dropping 37 points in the Elite Eight victory over Oregon.
“Perhaps Hield’s most memorable game was in a loss. He scored 46 points as No. 2 Oklahoma lost a triple-overtime thriller at No. 1 Kansas in 2016. Later that season, he was named NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player after he scored 37 points in the Elite Eight win over Oregon,”
the Associated Press reported.
Hield Joins Oklahoma’s Elite with Jersey Retirement Ceremony
With his jersey number 24 raised to the rafters, Buddy Hield joined an exclusive group of Sooners whose numbers have been retired, including Alvan Adams, Wayman Tisdale, Blake Griffin, Stacey King, and Mookie Blaylock. This honor cements Hield’s place in Oklahoma’s basketball history.
“The two-time Big 12 Player of the Year joined Alvan Adams, Wayman Tisdale, Blake Griffin, Stacey King and Mookie Blaylock as Sooners to have their jerseys retired,”
according to the Associated Press.
Buddy Hield’s NBA Career and Ongoing Legacy
After his college success, Hield was selected sixth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft and has since been a consistent scorer across several teams. His NBA career includes stints with the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, and currently the Atlanta Hawks alongside Trae Young.
Young, himself an Oklahoma alumnus who played during the 2017-18 season, has publicly recognized Hield’s influence and contributions to Sooners basketball, strengthening the connection between past and present Oklahoma stars.
Oklahoma’s recent game ended in a narrow 75-71 loss to Texas A&M, but the jersey retirement celebration served as a hopeful reminder of the program’s rich history and the bright future ahead.
Shoutout @buddyhield for #24 going up in the rafters!!! Remember when he was #3 as a freshman haha… Gods Amazing Brother!!!
College Basketball Legend! Congrats🫡— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) February 22, 2026
