Sacramento Kings: The Harry Giles hype is real

Sacramento Kings center Harry Giles is finally back from injury and showing what the buzz is all about.

All aboard the Harry Giles hype train! The Sacramento Kings forward has finally hit the court after missing his entire rookie season to recover from a knee injury, and he is already creating a buzz in the 2018 NBA Summer League.

Kings fans, having heard so much about what Giles has been doing in practice, already had an idea of what Giles is all about. But now, with Giles shining in the Summer League, the hype is getting real.

Giles might still be shaking off the rust as he comes back from injury, but that didn’t stop him from showing a glimpse of the explosiveness that made him one of the top high school prospects just a few years ago.

That was especially true when Giles threw down a ferocious slam in the first quarter of the Kings’ Summer League game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Giles’ offensive game was understandably rusty at the beginning of Summer League, but he seems to be more comfortable with each game that goes by. From hook shots, to turnaround jumpers to mid-range shots, Giles has shown off a little bit of everything during Summer League. His passing, which has always been praised, has also been on display.

Expect the Kings to put the ball in Giles’ hands a lot this season. He seems to be the type of playmaker the Kings’ have needed for quite some time. Perhaps Giles will bring back memories of Chris Webber in a Kings’ jersey.

Giles has also been compared to Kevin Garnett. That comparison is easy to see now that we’ve seen him in Summer League. Like KG, Giles brings a little bit of everything to his game and can be a nightmare for the opposition for years to come.

What became even more evident in the Summer League is that Giles can be chirpy like Garnett too. Whether it’s after a posterizing slam or a strong defensive play, Giles hasn’t been shy to talk a little smack to his opponent. Last season, the Kings’ didn’t have a lot of that on the court. Giles’ attitude will be a welcome sight. This is basketball after all, and you can’t have too many nice guys on the court.

In three Summer League games in Sacramento, Giles posted 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per game on 48.1 percent shooting. In three more games in Las Vegas, he’s stepped up his numbers to 12.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game on 47.2 percent shooting.

Giles’ strongest attribute has been his defense, another much-needed addition to a team that hasn’t played defense in quite some time. He showed his ability to get in passing lanes and force turnovers, as well as his ability to protect the rim. He wasn’t the biggest player on the court at any time, but he has been able to stand his ground against anybody in Summer League. In just a few months, we’ll see if Giles can do the same against NBA All-Stars.

The league is already taking notice. That’s why The Starters from NBA TV sat down with Giles for an interview during Summer League. As The Starters pointed out, Giles’ profile on NBA.com was kind of thin. They helped him boost his profile by asking some interesting questions.

At this point, Kings’ fans just have to hope Giles can stay healthy.

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If he does, Giles will certainly become the impact player the team desperately needs in the frontcourt.