Bones Hyland never gave up. Never lost sight of his goals even when frustration clouded his view from the Clippers bench.
Hyland, a wiry shooting guard, came to the Clippers in a trade from the Denver Nuggets looking for a solid place in the rotation and for a moment, he found it. In his first 14 games in Los Angeles last season, he averaged 10.8 points in 18.9 minutes a game.
Hyland started two games and averaged more than 25 minutes in the first eight games this season but saw his role reduced to mop-up minutes after the James Harden trade. As the weeks wore on, he went from being one of the most accessible guys in the locker room to hiding from the media.
Then in February, Hyland, along with teammate P.J. Tucker, got sent home from the Bay Area in a move widely viewed as punishment for being disgruntled over the lack of playing time with Harden aboard.
All that was behind him Wednesday, though. Hyland, in his fifth start of the season, scored 37 points on 15-of-29 shooting, including six 3-pointers, and had nine assists in a lopsided loss to the Phoenix Suns. Four of the five starters sat out the third-to-last game of the season.
“I mean honestly it’s been an up and down curve for me, but I’ve been walking with God and my faith has been much higher since I’ve been not playing,” Hyland said. “Obviously, when I first came into the league I was in a rotation, so just coming over here and not playing for three months, four months, it’s been tough because I’m a kid who always wants to play.
“But like I said, at the end of the day I’m learning under guys that are Hall of Famers and I know my shot will come soon. In the meantime, I’m going to support my teammates as best as I can. We are looking forward to something bigger. So, it’s not just about me, it’s about the team that’s got something bigger.”
Coach Tyronn Lue said he realizes playing behind two future Hall of Famers in Russell Westbrook and Harden has been difficult for Hyland. He applauded the young players’ attitude and work ethic, though.
“He’s done a great job of just sticking with it, continuing to keep working, putting the work in every single day,” Lue said. And when his name has been called, he’s been good for us. He loves to compete, he loves to play, but right now with the circumstances the way they are, he’s done a good job of just handling the whole situation.”
Hyland is hoping his performance Wednesday will earn him a chance to be in the rotation for the playoffs. The starters, including Kwahi Leonard, who has missed six consecutive games because of inflammation in his right knee, are expected to be healthy for their first-round match-up against the Dallas Mavericks.
But if anyone needs to rest, Hyland will be ready.
“Whenever he calls my name, calls my number, I’ll always be ready,” he said. “So, I feel like he can always count on me whenever the team needs me, needs my talent.
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“I feel like they’ve been seeing it though, not just tonight. I feel like it’s just something that when my number’s called (I’ll) just perform and do what we need.”
Ironically, the player who Hyland sought out for advice this season has been Westbrook, who had his own frustrations after the Harden trade before moving to the bench.
“Man, Russ has been just a big advocate for me. He’s been that vet for me,” Hyland said. “He’s been that guy that is always in my ear just telling me, go out there and just play free (and) don’t ever change your game for nobody. Go out there and be Bizzy.
“So that’s something that I always appreciated from Russ, man. From day one when I met him when I was on another team, I seen him in the tunnel. It just clicked instantly. Then I came onto the Clippers, it was just a little bro, big bro vibe going on.”
Utah at Clippers
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/radio: Bally Sports SoCal/AM 570
