Bones Hyland knew he wanted to land back in Minnesota.
After joining the Timberwolves on a two-way deal in the middle of the 2024-25 campaign, Hyland was a free agent over the summer. But after consistent communication with the Wolves, Hyland re-signed with Minnesota in the weeks leading up to training camp.
This is where Hyland always believed he’d end up in his career. Trade rumors linking the guard to the Timberwolves were fervent over the past couple of seasons. He heard them. And when he finally ended up in Minneapolis, the fit was seamless.
“I felt the continuity, I felt the energy, I felt the love when I first got over here, so it was everything once I stepped into the premises of Minnesota basketball,” Hyland said. “I was like, ‘This is where I belong, for sure.’ I definitely love it over here, I like how it’s all about winning, the teammates are very cool, the coaches are cool. Everyday it’s like I’m happy coming to work, so I feel good.”
The connection in recent years between the guard and the Wolves was clear: Tim Connelly drafted Hyland to the Nuggets back when Connelly was in Denver.
“That’s my guy, man,” Hyland said.
Hyland is a “hooper” — someone who could pick up a ball at a park and run 5 on 5 for hours just for the fun of it. Connelly loves those types of players.
Their relationship was first forged at the NBA Draft Combine. During Hyland’s interview with Denver, the Nuggets front office asked the guard to rap one of his songs.
“I feel like ever since then we’ve had a different connection, like a real close connection,” Hyland said. “He always has my back. That’s a guy I’m always appreciative of everyday. Every time I see Tim, it’s always a big hug. I’m very thankful for him in just believing in me.”
Especially at times when not everyone has. After a standout rookie season in Denver, Hyland seemed to fall out of favor with the Nuggets after Connelly departed for Minnesota. The guard was eventually traded to the Clippers, where he fell out of the rotation and was eventually waived.
Hyland said his career started out “on the upscale, career was going uphill,” but noted the trade to the Clippers was “a little wobbly.” Still, he said his time in Los Angeles was a learning experience, filled with opportunity to learn from the likes of James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
“I learned patience, I learned how to go about life everyday,” Hyland said. “I learned that my work ethic was already up there, but just seeing Hall of Famers and them being established already, still getting their work in everyday and staying late after practice and getting work in before practices. Working out with James everyday when I was out there with the clippers. I learned a lot. I feel like it turned me into a man more, I matured more. I don’t take things for granted.”
The 25-year-old is passing those lessons onto second-year guard Rob Dillingham, who he sees some of himself in Hyland.
“I kind of give him pointers, like me not playing the last year and a half and him not playing his rookie season. Like, ‘Bro everything is patience, everyday try to get one percent better,’ ” Hyland said. “If you’re playing or not, come in with a smile on your face and be a good person to yourself first, and a good person to others, everything else will take care of itself.”
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