NBA
#20 – Harry Giles – Sacramento Kings
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
With the 20th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings (via trade) select Harry Giles.
Giles has come a long way to get to this point. In 2013, Giles suffered a severe knee injury while playing in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship. Giles worked his way back and put together a successful collegiate career. The long-term impact of this injury is something that Giles will have to overcome to reach his full potential — a risk that Sacramento was clearly willing to take.
Giles is the type of athletic, young player that many teams covet in the modern NBA. Giles can cover the floor, score in transition and on the break. In addition, he is a strong rebounder with a good feel for chasing down loose balls. Look for the Kings to build around point guard De’Aaron Fox, Harry Giles and Justin Jackson as part of the new youth movement.
Though Giles has a lot of athleticism, his offensive game could use some polish. He will have to continue to improve at the next level if he wants to broaden his offensive game and be less dependent on others to score. His defense is acceptable but there is plenty of room for growth and development in this part of his game as well.
