NBA ALL-STAR RISING STARS PRACTICE

February 16, 2024

Bones Hyland

Team Pau

Press Conference

Q. Where are you off to after this?

BONES HYLAND: I don't know. Enjoy my time off.

Q. You set up in L.A. yet?

BONES HYLAND: A little bit. I didn't get all the way suited up, but almost there.

Q. You're primed to be the backup point guard. Why do you think you've earned it?

BONES HYLAND: I feel like what I offer is very elite. My shotmaking ability, my playmaking ability, my speed, my pace, my quickness. I feel like that's definitely a go-ahead position for me right now.

I feel like I'm bigger than that, but in the meantime just go with what I've got right now.

Q. I know it's only been a handful of games, but how do you feel yourself meshing with this team so far?

BONES HYLAND: I feel like it's good. A lot of good guys around the team. A lot of good vibes, positive vibes. Just great dudes all around.

Q. In terms of Ty, I know last time we talked you hadn't had a practice yet. What's it like with Ty in the last week?

BONES HYLAND: Really good. Ty is a good dude. Stays in my ear, tells me to keep going out there and be myself.

Q. It's been kind of a whirlwind the last few weeks. What was it like to get out there and run around and have some fun with a lot of your peers in the league, guys in your same age group?

BONES HYLAND: It feels good to see the guys like that be back around at All-Star Weekend. Get out there and play with them and stuff like that because, honestly, we don't see each other a lot during the season. So just to be out there and be able to compete against each other and have some fun is good.

Q. Did you expect this for yourself when you were in college, your last year there? Did you think this was possible, the second year you would be here?

BONES HYLAND: Of course, yeah. I always set my goals for myself, and I knew I would be here. I'm just checking things off my checkbox. So it's been good for me.

Q. What do you think are some of the keys for you over these last 25 or so games? You want to show them, but you also want to blend in? Is that a little bit of a challenge?

BONES HYLAND: Of course. Yeah, just try to blend in, but at the same time just getting in where I fit in right now and just trying to be that spark plug for us and get out there and do what I do best.

Q. (Off microphone)

BONES HYLAND: I knew guys on the team before, but I didn't know I was going. Once I got traded there, it was definitely, like, a lot of excitement for myself. I knew a lot of guys on the team already. I just feel like I could fit in really well.