All Clippers

LA Clippers Player Sends Heartfelt Message to Russell Westbrook

LA Clippers guard Bones Hyland shared a message for Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook

Joey Linn

Mar 23, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Bones Hyland (5) is congratulated by guard Russell Westbrook (0) against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena.
Mar 23, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Bones Hyland (5) is congratulated by guard Russell Westbrook (0) against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Russell Westbrook was traded by the LA Clippers earlier this summer, landing with the Utah Jazz where he agreed to a contract buyout for the second time in his NBA career.

Joining the Clippers in 2023 after his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook quickly emerged as a leader on and off the court. Particularly influential on the team's young players, Westbrook helped mentor young guard Bones Hyland as he dealt with a fluctuating role after arriving from Denver.

"Russ has been a great leader to me," Hyland said last season. "Since I came here. Even before I got here. He’s always been that guy I can go talk to… During this whole process he told me to stay down, stay hungry, stay in the gym, and keep being myself.”

Sending a heartfelt message to Westbrook on Instagram, Hyland shared a series of pictures and videos of the two guards together.

"I remember I was on Denver and showed me so much love," Hyland wrote. "Then we became teammates and became brothers. Thank you for everything Brodie."

Hyland often spoke about his connection with Westbrook during their time as teammates, which is something Westbrook also cared deeply about.

"It’s part of my job being a leader to help any way I can," Westbrook said before last season when asked about Hyland looking up to him. "I’m grateful to be able to do that for somebody like Bones. I’m excited for the things he’s going to do in this league.”

There is a chance Hyland is not with the Clippers next season due to their current roster crunch at the guard position, but he has shown flashes of ability at the NBA level, so hopefully he gets an opportunity to play rotation minutes in LA or somewhere else.

Related Articles

Steph Curry References James Harden's Iconic Shot During Olympics Celebration

Patrick Beverley's Honest Quote on Former Clippers Teammate Kawhi Leonard

France Basketball Veteran, Clippers Player Announces Olympics Retirement

Published
Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

Home/News