Former Clemson standout Hunter Tyson delivered a strong performance for the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Making his second career NBA start, Tyson scored a career-high 18 points in Denver’s 113-106 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The second-year forward also added six rebounds, one shy of his career-high.

Hunter stepped up for a short-handed Nuggets team, which sat all five of their starters after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 140-139, in double-overtime Tuesday night.

Hunter was ready to answer the bell when he learned that he’d be starting in Wednesday’s game against the Spurs.

“I think I just try and prepare the same way every time, so I stay ready,” Hunter said in his postgame press conference. “There’s been several times this year I wasn’t even supposed to play, and I’ve got thrown out there. I think really the only way to stay ready in those type of scenarios is just to keep the same routine every game, no matter whether you’re starting or you don’t think you’re going to play. So, I really try and, like I said, keep the same routine and just be pretty even.”

Tyson finished the contest with three made 3-pointers, the most 3s he has made in a single regular season game over his first two NBA seasons.

“Once you see one go through, it definitely helps your confidence a little bit,” Tyson said. “So, I was glad to see a few go through. Wish a few more would’ve went in, but that’s basketball.”

Overall, in 30 minutes on the court, Tyson went 7-for-20 from the field, 3-for-9 from beyond the arc and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line.

Tyson, who was drafted in the second round (37th overall pick) of the 2023 NBA Draft, is a sharpshooter and has drawn praise for his ability to shoot the cover off the ball.  

So whether or not his shot is falling on a given night, Hunter’s confidence in himself doesn’t waver.

“I think it’s all about just trusting the process,” he said. “I know I put the work in. I believe in myself, I’m confident, so I try not to overthink it too much. I just continue to go through my routine, like I said, and always think the next one’s going in.”

Tyson, who played five seasons at Clemson from the 2018-19 season through the 2022-23 campaign, became just the 17th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in a career. In his final season, he became the all-time games played leader in Clemson history.

Tyson earned first-team All-ACC honors after putting together a career year at Clemson in 2022-23, when he averaged a team-best 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the floor, 40.5 percent from 3 and 83.8 percent at the free-throw line and collecting 16 double-doubles.

The 6-foot-8, 215-pounder has appeared in 67 games for the Nuggets across his first two seasons, including 49 this season, during which he has totaled 132 points, 23 made 3-pointers, 78 rebounds, 19 assists, nine steals and six blocked shots.  

Hunter holds himself to a high standard and said he’s “trying to improve in all aspects” of his game moving forward.

“Definitely shooting is a huge one,” he said. “When the shot doesn’t go in, I’m definitely critical. But I think defense and rebounding – really I think I’m just my biggest critic, and I think that’s a good thing.”

–Photo courtesy Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images