Last-minute guest Bones Hyland enjoyed participating in the “Rising Stars Challenge” | NBA

So many twists and turns in the last few hours for Bones Hyland. While he was initially not selected to take part in the “Rising Stars Challenge”, the Nuggets rookie was finally drafted the day before the meeting, in place of Davion Mitchell of the Kings, injured in the right hand.

When he planned to go to the side of his old college of VCU to see a match there, he had to change his plans at the last moment. For a damn good reason.

” He [Tim Connelly, le GM des Nuggets] called me and asked me what my plans were for All-Star Weekend. I told him I was going back to VCU to watch a game against a rival team. He replied, ‘How about taking part in the Rising Stars Challenge?’ I told him that would be really cool.“

Result: a few hours later, the young Nugget started in Team Payton for the second semi-final of the evening against Team Barry, during which he shone despite the defeat (10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 interception). ” It was a big moment for me” he confessed. ” I came here to make my name known.“

A name that his one-night coach, legend Gary Payton, seems set to remember. On several occasions during the evening, “The Glove” indeed pushed the Nuggets will-o’-the-wisp to be ever more aggressive: ” Go ahead, get yourself a basket. They can’t defend you, go get a basket every time!“

The rest of the weekend will be with his family for the rookie, who will spend time with his loved ones before returning to the hall on Sunday evening to support his teammate, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, for the All-Star Game.