Harry Giles is officially out for the season according to the Sacramento Kings. This article details his injuries and what to expect going forward.
Harry Giles was once upon a time regarded as the best player in a talented high school class that featured De’Aaron Fox, Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, and Jayson Tatum just to name a few. That landscape changed by the time those players hit college and eventually the NBA draft, though. Giles slipped all the way until the Sacramento Kings selected him 20th overall. We all knew the upside was immense, but the floor was he never gets healthy enough to play in the league. His rookie season appears over in mid-January without him ever taking the court. Below is a Tweet from James Ham regarding the recent news.
Official announcement from Kings on Giles: pic.twitter.com/uGJBDK3MqK
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) January 18, 2018
What the news means
The Kings update tells the whole story. Giles is healthy enough to play and has been practicing with the team, but they have decided to slap the redshirt tag on him to prevent further injuries down the line.
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Long-term concerns
First, let us look back to get a clearer picture going forward. Giles has had three knee surgeries since 2013. He has torn both ACL’s (left in 2013 and right in 2015) and had another procedure on his left knee while at Duke last season. Going under the knife three times in four years is scary and will worry me until we can see him step on the court and play a full season. It is important to remember the NBA season is much longer than the high school or college one meaning more wear and tear on his already compromised knees. We will continue to monitor this situation over the next few years so stay tuned.
Expectations for Giles
The upside for Giles is still sky high. Below is Tweet from Sean Cunningham featuring a video of Bogdan Bogdanovic discussing what Giles brings to the court. Enjoy.
"He's super talented...He can be a game changing player," - Bogdan Bogdanovic on his Kings teammate Harry Giles pic.twitter.com/VhbLS1cW4O
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) January 18, 2018
The video got me pumped up for Vegas Summer League 2018 when we will finally get to see Giles play. You can uncover some practice footage online showing Giles’ ball handling and shooting ability, but what made him truly special was his athletic ability. The injuries could cost him in that area, but we will never know until he sees extended game action. Do not overact to the summer league small sample, but keep an eye out for even flashes of that elite talent Bogdanovic mentioned.
Final thoughts
It is disappointing that Harry Giles’ first season is going to end without him ever taking the court, but if it keeps him healthy for the next decade, it is a wise move. Continue to monitor any news we get about Giles and his development.
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