Skip to main content

The Los Angeles Lakers (33-28), No. 9 in the Western Conference standings, needed to add to their frontcourt depth down the homestretch of their push for postseason action. They did so on Friday by signing 2016-17 Duke basketball big man Harry Giles to a two-way contract, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported.

RELATED: List of Duke's All-Time First-Round NBA Draft Picks

Following two full seasons out of the NBA while addressing knee issues that have plagued his career since high school, Giles began the 2023-24 campaign on a non-guaranteed one-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets.

He played 16 games, averaging 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per outing off the bench before getting waived on Feb. 8.

Giles, a 25-year-old North Carolina native who at one time ranked No. 1 in the 2016 class and came off the board No. 20 overall at the 2017 NBA Draft despite seeing only a reserve role in Durham, joins another Duke basketball talent and former one-and-done collegian on the Lakers' roster. That player is 24-year-old forward Cam Reddish.

Reddish, who recently returned from a right ankle sprain, is now averaging 6.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals across 37 appearances in his first season in Los Angeles after arriving via free agency over the summer. He's drawn 26 starts.

As of Harry Giles' sudden return to the count, there are now 23 former Blue Devils on an active NBA contract.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more updates on NBA Blue Devils and other Duke basketball news.