One of the more intriguing additions of the offseason for the rebuilding Nets was the signing of big man Harry Giles.
Giles was once considered one of the top high school players in the nation, but thus far in his NBA career, he’s yet to live up to the lofty expectations. He’s battled his fair-share of injuries, appearing in just 142 games and averaging 5.9 points over his first three seasons.
Still possessing some upside and potential though, the Nets took a chance on the 25-year-old this offseason on a one-year deal, and so far in training camp, Giles has been taking advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
With center Nic Claxton sitting out due to a sore glute during Thursday’s scrimmage against Maccabi Ra’anana, Giles received the start, and in his first appearance in over two years he shined on both ends of the court.
The Duke product recorded a double-double in the 135-103 win, putting up 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and reeling in ten rebounds, six of which came on the offensive glass.
“I felt good,” he told reporters postgame. “I went out there and played hard. Kept my focus on rebounding and everything else followed behind it. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help this team.”
The youngster left his new head coach and teammates impressed with his play.
“Definitely a good and productive performance for him,” Jacque Vaughn said. “Harry was extremely aggressive, starting with his rebounding on both sides of the floor. He was in the right spots defensively, giving us a presence at the rim.”
“He brought a ton of energy, stuck to his assignments, and played extremely well,” Spencer Dinwiddie added. “A lot of people have said he’s one of the top high school players they’ve seen. Any success that he has is a welcomed sign, he’s extremely talented as we saw.”
The 20th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Giles has been on a mission during this new opportunity with Brooklyn. He’s averaged seven points and ten rebounds over the first two tuneup matchups.
And with each passing day, Giles says his confidence is growing and he hopes to make the most of his new chance.
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity,” he said. “It’s all about confidence, I’m just building confidence with each game. I feel great, I’ve been working my body hard in the summertime and now all of preseason. I’m excited to keep going and keep building.”
If Giles can stay healthy and continue to contribute, he could find himself backing up Claxton to begin the regular season. Brooklyn will be back in action Monday at home against the Philadelphia 76ers.
