How This Timberwolves Guard Overcame Tragedy to Play with God-Given Purpose

Published: March 30, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland couldn’t be more grateful to play the game he loves after he almost lost his life in house fire eight years ago.

His house caught on fire one night when Hyland was a junior in high school. Since the lower level was engulfed in flames, he had to jump from the second story, tearing his patellar tendon in his right knee when he landed. Tragically, his baby cousin and grandmother died in the fire.

“I cried my eyes out,” he revealed in an interview with The Athletic. “But I knew it wasn’t the end for me. God always got the last say-so.”

Now, every time Hyland checks into the game, he makes the sign of the cross on his chest to express his gratitude for being able to play basketball.

“That’s something that I thank the Lord for keeping me here and keeping me going,” he told ESPN in 2022 at the game where some of the people who saved his life attended, per Sports Spectrum. “That’s something I play for each and every day. I try to go out there and play with joy and that swag and just be me at all times.”

For more inspiring sports stories, check out Sports Spectrum.

Hyland uses his platform to share his faith in God.

“Thank you, God, for a breath of fresh air & new challenges every day. It’s all a part of who you become in life. Never Doubt Jesus!” he said in one post on X.

Thank you God for a breath of fresh air & new challenges everyday. It’s all apart of who you become in life. Never Doubt Jesus!

— Bones Hyland (@BizzyBones11) April 8, 2025

“Half of y’all are scared to worship GOD because you’re scared of what your friends might say. But late in the midnight hour, God will always answer your calls,” he said in another post from several years ago.

Through his time in the NBA, Hyland floated back and forth from the G-League to the NBA. This season alone, he has played 63 NBA games and is likely to top his career high of 69.

With Timberwolves stars Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley out with injuries, Hyland has given his team impressive stats. He scored “17 or more points in each of the past four games, including 23 in a win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday,” per Sports Spectrum.

“The way Bones is playing right now, it’s really important we keep him in this group when Ant comes back,” head coach Chris Finch told the media after a game last week. “That means a couple of things: one is finding more minutes for him, and two, letting him do his thing. The most important thing is we’re playing fast right now, and we’re playing to the strengths of this roster.”

After surviving unimaginable loss and a near-death experience, Hyland continues to play with joy, faith, and purpose, using every moment on the court as a testament to God’s grace.

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