The Golden State Warriors entered the new season with a big question mark after Klay Thompson’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks. Replacing his scoring ability and long-range shooting was no small task, but the Warriors may have found their solution in Buddy Hield.

In his debut for the Warriors, Hield made an immediate impression, showcasing the shooting skills that made him one of the best 3-point shooters in the league.

Steph Curry, who has shared the court with some of the best shooters, was quick to acknowledge Hield’s value to the team. After the season opener, Curry had nothing but praise for his new teammate, signaling a smooth transition for the Warriors in a post-Thompson era.

Buddy Hield wasted no time proving his worth during the Warriors’ 139-104 blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers, hitting five 3-pointers. For Stephen Curry, Hield’s performance was a huge relief, as he believes Hield can help cover the gap left by Thompson’s exit.

“Without Klay, you need shooting, but we needed shooting anyway,” Curry said in a post-game interview, as quoted by Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

“Me and [Hield] have been one and two [in 3-point shooting], and Klay’s right there shooting threes for the last eight years, so we know what [Hield’s] skill set is, we know what he’s capable of doing. He’s been a very seamless transition so far.”

Hield’s ability to shoot from beyond the arc is exactly what the Warriors needed. Over the last five seasons, Hield led the NBA with 1,322 3-pointers, while Curry ranked second with 1,264 during the same period. In his debut, Hield racked up 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-7 from deep. Curry, meanwhile, contributed 17 points, shooting 4-of-10 from the field.

One of the Warriors’ key offseason goals was to find more scoring support for Curry. While they didn’t manage to sign a major star like Paul George or Lauri Markkanen, Hield’s arrival appears to be a solid move based on his opening night showing.

After the game, Hield reflected on how comfortable he felt playing for Golden State, sharing that he hadn’t felt this kind of freedom on the court since his college days at Oklahoma. It seems that Curry is thrilled to have Hield as a teammate, especially given what the team lost in Thompson.

“He’s of this world. He loves this game,” Curry said of Hield, according to 95.7 The Game. “He’s happy he’s able to play a system he’s comfortable in… I know he’s played against us for years… being on the other side of that is demoralizing for a team, but now he gets to add to that, so it’s a cool experience for him.”

Hield’s debut bodes well for the Warriors, and with Curry’s support and the team’s offensive structure, it looks like Hield is primed to become an integral part of their lineup moving forward.