Sacramento Kings: 5 goals for Harry Giles’ rookie season

By Max Holm | Aug 5, 2017

SACRAMENTO, CA - JUNE 24: The Sacramento Kings 2017 Draft Pick Harry Giles addresses the media on June 24, 2017 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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SACRAMENTO, CA – JUNE 24: The Sacramento Kings 2017 Draft Pick Harry Giles signs autographs on June 24, 2017 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

SACRAMENTO, CA – JUNE 24: The Sacramento Kings 2017 Draft Pick Harry Giles signs autographs on June 24, 2017 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Take a breath and reflect

Several years ago, Giles was considered the best high school player in the country and a contender for the No. 1 pick in 2017. Things didn’t go according to plan. After several knee injuries, Giles became a shell of himself. The athleticism and skill of a power forward that could do it all was more or less gone.

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Going to Duke was beneficial, but probably not what he needed. There’s so much pressure at that school to win. Giles needed a year of development and it just didn’t happen. With Jayson Tatum, Luke Kennard and Grayson Allen, they had national championship ambitions. Giles had to perform or risk riding the bench.

Declaring for the NBA Draft after a tumultuous lone season in college basketball was probably the right move. Someone, as the Kings did, was going to take a shot on him. Unexpected turns in the road happen. It’s best for Giles now to enjoy the moment. He made it to the NBA, when most don’t.

The 2017-18 season should be the season he needed to have last year. A year of reflection, growth and patience. Sacramento’s roster is full of big men. There’s no onus or pressure for him to contribute right away. Giles can take in all that goes into being an NBA player, as well as think about how far he’s come to bounce back. From there, he and the Kings’ staff can focus on what needs doing to start gearing him up to maximize his remaining potential.