“GOODMORNING EVERYONEEEEE LETS GOOOOOOOOOO. TODAY SOME TEAM IS GONNA GET A WINNER, PASSIONATE, HUMBLE, FUNNY, JOYFUL, ALL STAR, ALL OF THE ABOVE TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!! I’m simply so THANKFUL THANK YOU GOD…”
Bones Hyland tweeted that at 10:38 am on July 29, 2021—the day of the NBA Draft. It sums up who he’s—and what he brings to the desk—fairly completely. Later that night, the Denver Nuggets chosen Hyland with the 26th general decide. The 6-3 guard, initially from Wilmington, Delaware (simply the third participant from the state ever to be drafted within the first spherical), had dominated the earlier season at Virginia Commonwealth College, averaging 19.5 factors and main the Atlantic 10 Convention in three-pointers made (69). He was thought-about one of the vital proficient perimeter shooters within the 2021 Class, able to pulling up from wherever and flattening powerful, contested appears. Together with his elite quickness and artful handles, Bones additionally confirmed a capability to get to the rim. If it wasn’t apparent from the tweet above, he performs with lots of vitality, ardour and confidence—on each ends of the ground. He added 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per sport final 12 months for the Rams.
Nonetheless, it was Hyland’s potential to ship “instantaneous offense” on the NBA stage—to be a flamethrower, electrifying sixth-man sort—that stood out to most scouts. Listed here are among the gamers he was in comparison with heading into the ’21 Draft: Immanuel Quickley, Jordan Clarkson, Devonte Graham, Jamal Crawford and Ben Gordon.
These comparisons ought to provide you with a superb sense for Hyland’s sport, and so they have proved apt throughout his rookie marketing campaign to this point. The 21-year-old has been a much-needed scoring spark for the Nuggets, particularly with major weapons Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray sidelined. In simply 18 minutes per sport, Bones is averaging 8.7 factors and taking pictures 36 p.c from three. He hasn’t been shy or hesitant in any respect, rating 12th in your entire NBA at one level in three-point makes an attempt per 100 possessions (min. 25 video games performed) with 13.3. Amongst rooks, he’s fourth in whole three-pointers made (80), trailing simply Cade Cunningham (89), Chris Duarte (87) and Jalen Inexperienced (83). Value noting: Hyland has performed 500 fewer minutes than all three of these lottery picks.
In different phrases, Hyland is doing precisely what the Nuggets need him to do: offering a raise on offense and being aggressive from the second he steps on the ground. He additionally brings an depth, aptitude and competitiveness that may be contagious. Stuff like this tends to encourage the entire group:
Bones has been enhancing steadily all through his first 12 months, growing extra chemistry with former MVP Nikola Jokic and incomes extra belief from the teaching workers. Earlier than the All-Star break, he had five-game stretch by which he averaged 12.4 factors, together with a 22-point outing in a 132-115 win over the Knicks.
As anticipated, there have been a number of nights when Bones has caught fireplace and rapidly lit up opposing defenses. He dropped 24 factors in 26 minutes—taking pictures 8/11 from the sector and 4/5 from three—towards the Hawks in December. A month later, dealing with the Lakers at Staples Heart, he went off for a career-high 27 factors and 10 assists, flattening 6/10 from deep. Watch how fearlessly he assaults within the spotlight video beneath, whether or not he’s unleashing a stepback, coming off a ball display screen or launching from means behind the arc.
Hyland changed the injured Davion Mitchell in final Friday’s Rising Stars Problem and confirmed why he belonged. He was, unsurprisingly, a supply of instantaneous offense, notching 10 factors and hitting a pair of threes. Corridor of Famer Gary Payton—his group’s coach—was apparently telling him, “They’ll’t guard you, go get a bucket each time.”
“Man, that is just the start for me,” Bones stated afterwards. “Simply to see all the pieces and understanding what I might be on this league—[with] what I present, what I can deliver, I do know I’m going to be an All-Star on this league. So seeing these things firsthand, it’s large for me. I’m soaking all of this in.”
