Buddy Boeheim’s 24 hours leading up to Boeheim’s Army’s TBT tipoff against the Herkimer Originals were nothing short of intense.
Before boarding a red-eye flight to Syracuse, he wrapped up his final NBA Summer League game with the Indiana Pacers in Las Vegas, where he scored six points on two three-pointers. Landing early Saturday morning, Buddy met with his team just hours before tipoff. Despite the whirlwind, he never felt fatigued. He was fueled by excitement.
“I think the adrenaline was there from the start,” Buddy said to FOX Sports. “Being out there, and the nerves were there. But playing with Elijiah (Hughes), Jacob Gilyard for the first time, playing with my brother and all these great former ‘Cuse guys…was super fun.”
That excitement quickly translated into impact. Fans didn’t have to wait long to see that familiar Buddy Boeheim spark. Whether darting around screens for catch-and-shoots, slashing inside with the ball, or pulling up for contested deep shots, Buddy brought the same energy that once lit up the JMA Wireless Dome. He looked every bit the sharpshooter from his Syracuse days, pumping up the crowd with every shot.
“It didn’t matter how many hours of sleep I got last night,” he said.
The former Syracuse sharpshooter made his TBT debut count, finishing with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-9 three-point shooting. With less than a day to build chemistry, he still clicked with teammates, thanks in part to their deep Orange connection. He played two seasons with Hughes at Syracuse, including a 44-point combined outburst against North Carolina in the 2019-20 season finale. He also shared the court with his brother Jimmy during the 2021-22 season.
“I think the chemistry that these guys feel has been embedded into these guys because of Coach (Jim) Boeheim,” BA’s head coach, Allen Griffin, said postgame, who also serves as an assistant coach at Syracuse. He added that Jim Boeheim had joked with him, saying, “Just give Buddy the ball,” to which Griffin replied, “But I got Elijah.”
Regardless of the joke, it was clear: when Buddy had the ball, good things happened. His teammates trusted him, and he delivered.
“It’s a good thing that we all understand and know each other. You know, especially, we’re familiar with one another. It’s just good to be around,” Griffin said.
That comfort also extended to teammates outside the Syracuse circle. Buddy said he felt “easy” playing with Gilyard, despite it being their first time working together in the backcourt. He also shared the same sentiment on the BA’s big Noah Starkey, as Buddy had already played with him at the OKC Blue, the G-League affiliate of the OKC Thunder, last season.
“You got to try finding ways to play with everyone and be flexible. So that’s kind of what I try to do. And, those guys do the same,” Boeheim said.
After undergoing surgery on the thumb of his shooting hand during the G-League season with the OKC Blue, Buddy was invited to join BA by its GM, Shaun Belbey. Despite experiencing a decline from his deep last season (33.7%) compared to his 2023-24 season with Motor City Cruise (43.1%), Belbey said Buddy was “one of the best shooters in the world who was not in the NBA,” indicating how much BA needed a knockdown shooter after past struggles from three.
“I knew I was going to have an off-season (and) be able to (play TBT),” Boeheim said. “I think Belby did a good job here, and Griffin was going to coach, I think it was a no-brainer for me. And you see why it’s super fun out there. It’s as fun as I’ve had playing basketball in a while.”
And, of course, the Orange fans made it even more special. With the SRC Arena buzzing for BA’s TBT opener, and with Jimmy once again in the same jersey, Buddy found all the motivation he needed. In 2023, Jimmy returned for TBT and helped BA reach the regional final. This year, with their father watching from the sidelines, the Boeheim brothers have bigger goals.
“Nothing better,” Buddy said of playing with Jimmy again in front of the Orange fans. “I think that was the most fun I’ve had in a long time playing basketball, just because of the environment, the fans, how much Syracuse means to me and Jimmy, and I think it’s awesome. It’s like the whole time.”
With one day to rest before BA faces No. 4 We Are D3 in the Round of 32, Buddy will finally have time to rest. But if his TBT debut proved anything, it was that when the spotlights came on and the Orange fans’ eyes were watching, Buddy showed up, and he was meant to.
“I’m pretty tired now. I’m definitely going to need some sleep,” Buddy said when asked if he was tired. “But when I got here and saw the fans, it was easy to play for (them) and get up for it.”
Kevin Lu is a contributor for Fingerlakes1.com. He freelanced for the site during The Basketball Tournament (TBT) in 2025.