“Splash”- Every time Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson sunk a 3, Bob Fitzgerald used this term on the Warriors’ commentary desk. With some modifications from Andre Iguodala, the name “Splash Brothers” came into existence, and ever since it has stuck with the Steph-Klay duo.

After Klay Thompson’s heart-wrenching exit from the Bay Area, Dubs fans were looking for his replacement and stumbled upon the next big thing in Buddy Hield. To continue the tradition, many Dubs fans have dubbed Hield and Curry’s new partnership “Splash Buddies”, but this has offended a veteran podcast host who has fired warning shots at the fans.

Mark Willard, the voice of Warriors-centric podcasts “97.5 The Game” and “Willard and Dibs,” took issue with the new moniker bestowed upon Curry and Hield. For many, the “Splash Brothers” nickname is a sacred entity, just like the crest and jerseys, and Willard is certainly one of them. He made his sentiments clear during the latest episode of the “Willard and Dibs” podcast. Quite clearly, he is not repping the “Splash Buddies” anytime soon. “This little ‘Splash Buddies’ thing? ‘Splash’ left town. It’s over. Don’t do it. We’re not attaching splash anything to any other players…Klay and Steph. Don’t mess with that,” said a dissatisfied Willard.

The connection between the Splash Brothers was a sight to behold. Any team going against the Dubs knew they were about to see a bombardment of 3s courtesy of Steph and Klay from all angles possible. The duo changed how the game was played with their catch-and-shoot style that built the foundation of the Warriors dynasty. With Thompson’s exit, the dynasty met its demise. However, not many are ready to move on so quickly. “That was special. They earned that,” Willard concluded.

Buddy Hield is a capable shooter in his own right with a 40% career 3-point shooting. While that’s 1.3% lower than Klay’s, Hield’s Iron Man-esque fitness can compensate for that. Last season, the Bahamian played 84 games in the 82-game regular season due to his trade from the Pacers to the Sixers. Klay, on the other hand, missed significant court time in recent years due to his injuries. So, output-wise, it’s a like-for-like switch. But can Hield live up to the legacy left by the former number 11 of the franchise?

Buddy Hield opens up about his team-up with Stephen Curry

The former Sixers swingman came to the West Coast as a part of Klay’s historic trade to the Mavs. He is well aware of the sky-high expectations he’ll have to fulfill as the replacement for Klay Thompson. During his introductory press conference, Hield opened up about it and his imminent link-up with Curry. “There’s no pressure. Just come and do my job. What Klay has done for this organization has been tremendous. I love Klay a lot. I’ve watched him over the years. He’s special,” Hield said about his predecessor.

“So, I don’t look at it as pressure. I think it’s fun just being in that role and seeing if I can get the same looks he gets,” the 31-year-old further added. Hield finished last season with a 38.9% success rate from downtown while averaging 12.1 points. With the Warriors stuck between a rock and a hard place because of the decisions involving Stephen Curry’s future, Hield can provide the stabilizing effect the team missed last season. If he succeeds in doing so, we can safely assume that “Splash Buddies” are here to stay.

What do you think about the new “Splash Buddies” nickname for Curry and Hield? Do you believe Buddy Hield can live up to the legacy left by Klay Thompson? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!