Bones Hyland played 36 minutes in Minnesota’s victory over Sacramento on Sunday night, after not being in the rotation a week prior.
But circumstances change. Wolves coach Chris Finch noted Hyland had done everything that was asked of him and performed well in practice to earn an opportunity a third of the way into the season. Then ailments to Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley left Minnesota needing more out of the guard position.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) drives to the basket as New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, in New Orleans, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Hyland was ready for the opportunity and played well enough that Finch trusted him on the floor at the start and finish of the Timberwolves’ victory Sunday. It was a similar situation to Terrence Shannon Jr.’s night Friday in Golden State. Hyland suffered a knee bruise fewer than five minutes into that affair, leaving Minnesota even more short-handed.
The Wolves’ second-year wing played well – tallying nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals while serving as a useful cog in Minnesota’s up-tempo, ball-moving system – and saw 30 minutes of action because of it.
“He earned all 30 minutes,” Finch said.
Earned, not given.
That’s the way it is in Minnesota. Because the Wolves are too good of a team to run the style of developmental program that gifts extended minutes to young players simply because … they’re young players.
There’s been consternation over the small slices of the playing time pie to Shannon Jr and, more notably, Rob Dillingham this season. The point guard – who Minnesota traded a future first-round pick to select No. 8 overall in 2024 – has logged more than 12 minutes just six times this season. Shannon Jr. played fewer than 10 minutes in four straight games in early December.
“Much has been said about the 10 minute roles that these guys have, but with the way that we’re constructed … we have a deep six, seven guys who can all play upwards of the high 20s and low 30s or mid 30s,” Finch said. “Sometimes it just doesn’t leave like this 20-minute role for these guys.”
Finch frequently deployed a 10-minute rotation when the Wolves were at full health. The minutes of Dillingham, Shannon Jr. and Clark fluctuate within that rotation. The young guys haven’t earned the same grace as the established veterans – who’ve proven they can and will contribute to winning.
Generally, whether any of those young guys get a second-half shift depends on how they performed in their first run.
“What if the role is only 10 minutes?” Finch asked. “Shouldn’t you go out and crush those 10 minutes and then be ready to go back if we need you more? Or maybe we run with you a little bit longer?”
Finch has shown the propensity to do that with Hyland and Shannon Jr.’s performances over Minnesota’s last two games. If you play well, you’ll probably pay more.
“The reality is that’s the role right now, and they got to nail it,” Finch said.
The problem for Minnesota’s younger players is they haven’t consistently performed this season. That’s to be expected, Finch noted.
“We expect that there’s going to be good days and bad days, because (Dillingham and Shannon Jr. are) second year players, and that’s what second-year players do. They have inconsistencies,” he said. “If you play three games, you hope that you get one good, one not so good, and one maybe stinker. And you got to turn that into two positives and maybe one negative. Once we get there, then things start to go.”
Until then, the roles will shrink and grow on a nightly basis. Which way the pendulum swings will be determined by health and performance. That’s the works for top-tier teams in the NBA. The idea you can’t or won’t develop while playing inconsistent minutes flies in the face of many successful developmental stories of guys who’ve risen the ranks via hours in the practice facility. Sometimes, that’s what’s required. It was Hyland’s path back into the current rotation.
Those who don’t like it can go watch the Wizards.
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