There is perhaps no bigger surprise this season than the Sacramento Kings destroying all preseason projections and predictions. Currently sitting on a 30-26 record and just half a game outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference, the Kings have definitely performed way beyond expectations.

Sacramento shooting guard Buddy Hield is definitely enjoying the ride, and he could not help but take a shot at all the doubters that had zero faith in the Kings entering this season:

“It's been good, not just for me, but for this franchise and this city and all the crap that [general manager Vlade Divac] has been getting – ‘he doesn't know what he's doing' and us coming in and proving everybody wrong,” said Hield, per team insider James Ham. “That's the fun thing about it.”

In truth, not many could have predicted the meteoric rise in the Kings' level of competitiveness. After trading away their franchise centerpiece in DeMarcus Cousins two season ago, Sacramento was supposed to be in rebuilding mode.

However, the emergence of guys like Hield have helped fast forward the process. For his part, the 26-year-old guard (who happens to have been part of the deal that sent Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans) has been a revelation this season, averaging career-high marks in scoring (20.4), 3-pointers (3.4 — ranked fourth in the league behind only Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Paul George), rebounds (5.1), and assists (2.3).

Hield has certainly done his bit to make Divac look good, and based on his statement here, he is more than happy to accomplish just that.