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Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield was left unimpressed by the Colosseum. Why? Because he found out that the Maximus character from Ridley Scott’s Best Picture-winning film Gladiator wasn’t real.
While Maximus Decimus Meridius wasn’t specifically based on a single historical figure, the character was inspired by several notable figures from Roman history, such as Marcus Nonius Macrinus, Cincinnatus, and Spartacus.
Still, that was enough of a revelation to leave Hield feeling disappointed in the experience of visiting the Colosseum.
Buddy Hield reveals that he thought Maximus from Gladiator was a real historical figure
“I was a little disappointed when I went to the Colosseum. Because I watched Gladiator, and I thought Maximus was a real warrior. So I’m going to the Colosseum, screaming ‘Maximus!’ and my tour guide says he’s not real,” Hield explained in an interview with ESPN.
"I'm going into the Colosseum screaming ‘Maximus!’ and my tour guide said, ‘He’s not real.’" ⚔️
Buddy Hield is comedy 🤣 pic.twitter.com/r87hhJEW7N
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 14, 2025
Hield, 32 years old, was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 6th pick in the 2016 draft. Hield spent two seasons with the Pelicans before spending 2017 through 2022 with the Sacramento Kings.
After two seasons with the Indiana Pacers, Hield was traded to the Golden State Warriors prior to the start of the 2024 season.
For his career, Hield has averaged 15 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. His best season came in 2018-19 with the Kings, as he started in all 82 games for the only time in his career and averaged 20.7 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Just last year, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator was released and starred Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Denzel Washington, with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their roles from the original film.