Buddy Hield proclaims himself to be better than Jamal Murray

As part of the New Orleans Pelicans Media Day festivities, Buddy Hield held a Periscope Q&A with fans this past Friday. It hummed along largely as expected, proving rather uneventful as he responded to typical questions and comments while sucking down a mango smoothie from Smoothie King. For instance, Hield stated that Stephen Curry is his favorite active NBA player and conch salad as his favorite food.

Then, at the 4:55 mark of the video, someone asked, “Why couldn’t we draft Murray instead of you?”

Hield didn’t beat around the bush.

“Well... I’m a better player than Murray, you stop being crazy.”

Back in June, Jamal Murray was asked by a member of the media if he thought he was the best player in the 2016 draft. He replied as any competitor should in days leading up to one of the biggest days of his life.

"I think so," Murray said. "That's not a knock on anybody, I'm just looking back on the work I've put in, how far I've come, how quickly I learn, how quickly I adapt to my surroundings and how easy I fit into a team. I believe I'm the best player in the draft, but every team needs what they need."

Hield, with his ever-present smile, probably meant every word — just as Murray did months earlier. Yet, it shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that perhaps the stakes might be a little higher when the two newest sharpshooters in the league are compared together.

After Murray had established a new Celtics three-point workout record of 79 made threes in 100 attempts, Hield topped that mark about a week later with 85 makes out of 100 in his workout with Boston.

Prior to the 2016 NBA Draft, the topic of whether Hield or Murray should be selected first off the board was a hotly contested one. Everyone at one time or another likely chimed in, even seven writers here at The Bird Writes. Let’s be honest, though, it will probably take years before an answer emerges, but if we’re fortunate, a decade or more to decide the winner of this hopeful rivalry.