NBA What Harry Giles III brings to the Brooklyn Nets
Harry Giles III signed with the Brooklyn Nets officially on Sep. 6 to an Exhibit 10 contract, meaning that the Nets signed him to a one-year deal for the minimum. Giles III is one of the more interesting players that Brooklyn has signed this offseason given his history leading up to this point.
Giles III, 25, was considered one of the best players in his high-school class of 2016 and his high-school highlight tape is a testament to why he was hyped coming out of high school. Unfortunately for Giles III, he suffered a torn right ACL during his senior year of high school.
Despite the injury, Giles III was still able to play for Duke and only needed his freshman season to show that he was ready for the NBA. Giles III was the 20th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, but his three seasons in the NBA, he spent the 2021-22 season in the G League before being waived due to a season-ending injury.
As it stands now, Giles III is trying to get his way back into the NBA. He impressed enough in his workouts this summer that the Nets signed him. What can he bring to the table at this point of his career?
Rim Protection
While Giles III has not played much over the course of his career, he averages 12.9 minutes played per game, he has proven to be an elite rim-protector. He averages 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes and with his physical profile, 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds, Giles III is one of the more physically imposing players at the hoop.
Outside Shooting
Giles III shoots 25.8% from the three-point line for his career, but in most recent season played, he shot 34.8% from behind the three-point line. As a power forward/center, those numbers could mean that Giles III is a formidable shooter at his position and as such, can help spread the floor for players that prefer to drive to the rim.
Hustle
This attribute is more obscure than measuring rim protection ability or shooting ability, but after watching his highlights for the 2020-21 season, one can conclude that Giles III plays with all of his heart. Despite being a player with so much promise and potential, he still has plenty of plays where he is diving on the floor for a loose ball or running the floor for an easy score. Nets fans will appreciate that about Giles III.
