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Was Bones Hyland the biggest steal of the 2021 NBA Draft?

By Rowan Fisher-Shotton

DENVER, CO - MARCH 22: Bones Hyland #3 of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a three-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers at Ball Arena on March 22, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MARCH 22: Bones Hyland #3 of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a three-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers at Ball Arena on March 22, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 05: Bones Hyland #3 of the Denver Nuggets looks on against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Ball Arena on January 5, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 05: Bones Hyland #3 of the Denver Nuggets looks on against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Ball Arena on January 5, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) /

Unlike other late-round picks in this draft, it didn’t take very long for Bones Hyland to weasel his way into the rotation. Going from a loveable figure with a contagious smile to a hard-nosed competitor on the hardwood in just a few short months.

Being that the Denver Nuggets were set to be without both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., players needed to step up, and among them, was Hyland.

By the time December hit in the 2021-22 NBA regular season, Hyland jumped from 12.3 to 18.4 minutes per game. Cementing himself as the team’s backup point guard and one of the first players off the bench. In that month alone he averaged 9.2 points per game on over 35 percent shooting from the field.

However, what was most impressive is how these numbers only continued to go up over the course of the regular season.

By March, he was playing nearly 22 minutes a night and set season-highs in points (14.3), assists (4.3), and steals per game (0.9). All while shooting over 51 percent from the field and a whopping 48 percent from three. Making 2.6 three-pointers per game.

Then in the playoffs, he continued to show flashes of brilliance averaging 17 minutes and over 9 points in the five postseason games. Including a 15-point performance in Denver’s Game 4 win against the Golden State Warriors.

Bones Hyland capped off the regular season averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Shooting over 40 percent from the floor, 37 percent from three and 86 percent from the line in 69 games played. All of which is likely going to be enough for him to earn (at least) a Second-Team All-Rookie nod by the end of the postseason.

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