Kings’ Buddy Hield chides media over question about Marvin Bagley III’s foot injury
Marvin Bagley III limped away from the Orlando bubble as the Kings prepared to scrimmage the Miami Heat Wednesday on a night that marked the unofficial return of NBA basketball.
The Kings were back but Bagley was gone after suffering a season-ending injury during Sunday’s practice, the latest setback for a player who has been plagued by injuries over his first two NBA seasons. Kings coach Luke Walton said Bagley left the NBA campus at Walt Disney World Resort, presumably to make his way back to Sacramento to begin the tedious, tiresome and all-too-familiar rehabilitation process.
Bagley’s prolonged absences have invited repeated assaults on the team’s decision to choose him over Luka Doncic with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. On a more human level, Bagley — barely 21 years old — seems to be suffering emotionally due to the recurring injuries and scrutiny that ranges from fair criticism in the media to occasionally abusive attacks on social media. The issue has become sensitive enough to drive Bagley away from social media days after dropping a new album.
Kings guard Buddy Hield spoke out in support of Bagley after scoring 19 points in a 104-98 loss to the Heat on Wednesday night at HP Field House, one of three venues where games are being played in the NBA bubble. Hield was asked one question about Bagley’s injury. That was one too many for him.
“Marv’s a great kid,” Hield said. “I talked to him for a long time after I figured out what happened to him, and I just think that everything happens for a reason. God doesn’t make any mistakes. And you want to know what would be really good, too? Y’all want to know it? If y’all can stop reporting about that because he’s a kid and he’s going through stuff right now and he’s trying to get his mind right.
“The more the media talks about it just mess his head up because he’s trying to go out there and prove himself to everybody. So the more everybody can relax off the topic and let him get his body right and his mind right, and then when he comes back and he dominates you’re all gonna say Marvin’s doing good. But as a young kid, he’s going through a lot right now and he’s trying to mentally get over this hump, but he will get over this hump for sure.”
Kings believe in Bagley
The Kings organization has not wavered in its support of Bagley. General manager Vlade Divac stands by his decision to draft him and Walton insists he will be a great player, but all parties are losing time in the development process.
Bagley missed 20 games due to knee and back injuries as a rookie in 2018-19. He showed tremendous gifts at times, averaging 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds, but his role as a backup under former coach Dave Joerger was a point of contention that led to upheaval within the organization.
Joerger was fired, Walton was hired and Bagley was in the starting lineup when the Kings opened the season against the Phoenix Suns. Bagley missed 22 games after breaking his thumb that night. He returned for eight games in December, but then missed eight games with a left midfoot sprain. He came back to play four games in January, but then he aggravated the foot injury and missed the last 21 games before the NBA season was suspended in March.
The shutdown gave Bagley time to heal and pack on 10 pounds of muscle for the return of NBA play. He looked like he was ready. Teammates were impressed. Coaches noted he was getting increased reps due to the absences of Richaun Holmes and Alex Len. Then, a week into Sacramento’s stay in Orlando, Bagley went down again, suffering a lateral sprain of his right foot.
Walton was asked Wednesday how detrimental these recurring absences are to the organization’s efforts to develop a player who was drafted to become a pillar of the team’s rebuild.
“It’s not ideal, but it is what it is at this point,” Walton said. “He worked extremely hard to get back and get ready to play in this little eight-game tournament we have coming up. He got himself in great shape and now, for us deciding to shut him down … doing everything he can to get ready for next season is where our focus will be with him now.
“We know what kind of player he’s going to be. He’s going to have a great career. And we’ve got to keep him healthy and he’s got to continue to work, which he’s proven to do since I’ve been here as far as every time that he’s gotten injured. So it’s going to be a big offseason, but I’m confident that he’ll attack that with everything he has.”
‘Praying for him’
A number of teammates have voiced their support and sympathy for Bagley this week.
“It’s been a tough year for him, so I’ve just been praying for him, just trying to do what I can to keep his spirits up,” Holmes said.
Jabari Parker, another former No. 2 pick who has missed 191 games over six NBA seasons, said “injuries are a part of life” and “it’s normal.”
“I’m just trying to keep him on my mind and keep him in my prayers, and just try to be a good friend for him,” Parker said.
Len agreed.
“He had a rough season, injury after injury,” Len said. “We’re going to support him as much as we can. He’s a big part of this team, so we’re definitely going to miss him.”
Bagley had a tremendous opportunity in Orlando. With Len recovering from COVID-19 and Holmes quarantined for 10 days, Bagley was getting a chance to firmly establish a role in Walton’s rotation.
Walton enjoyed working with him, but he didn’t get to work with him long. Now he has to find a way to coach him from a distance through another tiresome rehabilitation process.
“It’s unfortunate and he really was playing well,” Walton aid. “He looked great. So as far as keeping him engaged, all we can really do right now is continue to encourage, continue to talk to him, show him film. Marvin left the bubble, so he’s not going to be here with us physically, but that doesn’t mean that we stop what we’re trying to do — sending him film, talking to him after games, all those things that you do when you’re part of the team.”
This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
