Harry Giles is a popular figure in the Sacramento Kings community. But do the fans of the purple and white look at him as a fan favorite? Here are three reasons why I believe they do.
Reason #1: Harry Has A Million-Dollar Smile
Harry Giles has a smile that is infectious. It pulls you in to let you know that he is truly happy to be where he is in life. After three serious knee injuries that would have been career ending for most people, Harry has kept a positive look on it. And as a result, he has worked his butt off and is now playing professional basketball at the highest level for a living. Really a testament to his mental and emotional strength.
That big smile of Harry’s gives us a glimpse that he is still just a big kid. Interacting with the crowd and his teammates show Giles is not afraid to be himself. During the Kings fan fest a couple of weeks back, there was no other player trying to get the crowd into the rookie dance-off contest more than Giles. There was no doubt that his performance was genuine and himself.
Harry loves his teammates and the game of basketball. Kings fans love when a player appreciates how lucky they are to have the best fans in the NBA. Also, he just gets what it is like to be a Sacramento King based on previous actions he has made in the past.
Reason #2: Harry’s Skillset Is As Good As Advertised
Harry Giles was hidden away from the public’s eyes for over a year. The front office had decided to bring Harry along slow and keep him out during his actual rookie season in order to build strength in his knees and legs. Giles worked with the Kings well-respected trainers which were Pete Youngman along with Manny Romero to increase Harry’s chances to have a long and successful career without a recurring injury.
Even though Harry was not playing in front of the Golden 1 Center fans, he still made noise within the Kings community. The word coming out of the practice facility was the fabulous skillset of Giles. He plays above the rim and displayed better passing and playmaking skills than anyone had expected. Giles also has good speed and timing to bring the Kings the shot-blocking presence that they need more of.
The Kings and their fans have only seen a very small sample size of Harry’s play, but he is as good as advertised. He displayed his potential during preseason play as he averaged 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a night while shooting 43.3% from the court and recording a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 19.8, ranked sixth on the team.
Reason #3: Giles Has An Edge That The Kings Need
It has been mentioned that the Sacramento Kings have a bunch of nice guys. Maybe a little too nice while on the court. Giles has the attitude of defending his team’s house when the Kings play at home. No easy buckets on his watch.
The purple and white need a hustle guy on defense. Harry is that guy as he is willing to do the little things that help a team win. Whether it is getting an extra rebound or running down a loose ball, Giles is hustling to help his team succeed.
On offense, Giles just flows naturally with the game. He has swag and confidence that makes him fit well with the team. We have only seen the beginning of what Harry can do for the Kings. His energy and effort can only inspire every Kings player to give the same effort. Giles is going to be in the running for the Rookie of the Year Award this season. Even if the rest of the NBA left his name off the list, people in the league have taken notice of him now. Giles can definitely play, but how far he can go up is still a mystery.
Final Thought On Harry Giles
The Sacramento Kings are selling a product, and in doing so, they will always put a positive spin on it. Harry Giles was hyped heavily for a player who fans never saw play for over a year. But with that said, he performed flawlessly during the preseason.
The front office and coaching staff was 100% correct about Giles. Harry is not only playing well as a rookie but just as an NBA player. He is making it look easy along with showing he is just getting started. If Harry surpasses all the predictions made when he was rated as the number one prospect in high school, it will make Vlade Divac look like a genius at scouting talent.
Giles will make a bit of noise in the NBA this year. How well he does remains to be seen. The way Harry plays, he makes it look easy and natural. Giles has an upside that the Kings will see sooner rather than later. His body language sells that he believes that he is going to excel in the NBA without any doubt. Excel without feeling any pressure and having fun while getting there. Show us what you got, Harry. And go, Kings!