Harry Giles: A Player Against All Odds

Sacramento Kings’ big man, Harry Giles III, is no stranger to adversity. Giles has endured many setbacks throughout his career, and many assumed these challenges would derail his NBA dreams and aspirations.

Giles spoke briefly about the extent of his injuries in his article “No Spoilers”, in The Players’ Tribune:

"“Before my 18th birthday,  I went through two major leg injuries – first I tore my left ACL and MCL, and then I tore my right ACL. Everything got thrown into chaos. A lot of people questioned my basketball future. At times, even I questioned how everything was going play out.” -Giles"

Injuries like these can prove to be career threatening and can be discouraging for a lot of players. What sets Giles apart from the rest is his pure willpower to come out on top.

Giles could have easily listened to the whispers of the critics and called it a career. He could have abandoned all of his hopes and dreams, rendering his endeavors null and void. But Giles stayed the course. Giles is now on pace to bounce back, and he has demonstrated his unwavering resolve during recovery and rehabilitation from his injuries. Though he has yet to play an NBA game, he has proven that he possesses the character and mental toughness to be successful in today’s NBA.

Call it a Comeback

Before his injuries, Giles was considered by many to be one of the top prospects in this year’s NBA draft. As a freshman at Duke, Giles showed flashes of what made him such an intriguing prospect. The former Blue Devil consistently displayed athleticism, defensive prowess, and a solid post up game. His nonstop motor and penchant for constantly being active around the rim were skills that NBA scouts coveted.

The Kings are counting on the fact that despite the odds, Giles can develop into the player everyone envisioned him becoming. Now, the ball is in Giles’ court, and Giles has been relentless and focused in his rehab as he works towards being ready to contribute on the basketball court.

"“It’s a long process, it’s a journey,” Giles said in an article by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. “There’s no rush.”"

According to Jones, Giles decided to declare for the NBA draft so he could get back to full health (per Sacramento Bee).

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The Kings, in turn, have also taken the smart, calculated, and careful approach when it comes to the long-term health of their newest power forward. The organization views the former Blue Devil as a player who fits into their future plans. Now, it’s time for Giles to put those skills to the test and silence the doubters.