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Jacque Vaughn shows appreciation for Harry Giles III
Harry Giles III received good minutes in the Brooklyn Nets’ 124-97 victory over the Washington Wizards. This was only his third appearance of the 2023/24 season, but he made sure to make a strong impression when he was called from the bench.
Giles scored eight points in his five minutes on the floor, showing his aggression on the offensive end. This was a great audition for Giles, as he wants to work his way up the rotation and be a valuable backup to Nic Claxton.
After the game, coach Jacque Vaughn praised the player out of Duke University.
“Harry hasn't played because we have Day'Ron and Nic. Other than that, he's good enough to be in the game,” Vaughn said in his post-game presser. “He's good enough to play, every day, he comes in to do his work with a smile on his face.”
Next man-up mentality for Giles
In any team, it's crucial to have reliable backup players who might not get much playtime but step up when needed; although Trendon Watford is often the go-to player for the Nets, Giles has shown he deserves a fair share of minutes too.
Giles is a talented player who was a prodigious talent earlier in his professional life. He was a top recruit out of high school as he was recruited by multiple schools, eventually settling on Duke. It was not a prolific career for him with the Blue Devils, but it was enough to help him move up to the NBA Draft.
Since being drafted in 2017, Giles has faced injury challenges, but he hasn't allowed setbacks to dampen his spirits. Instead, he consistently puts in hard work, expresses gratitude, and stands prepared to make an impact whenever his name is called, as showcased in opportunities with the Nets.
Giles is beloved by his teammates
After the match, Mikal Bridges made sure to shine a spotlight on Giles and what he does in practice that makes him such a lovable guy for his teammates. Bridges detailed that Giles does not hold his head down when his name is called as the big man still provides some needed support, and he continues to work hard behind the scenes.
“He's just a great dude, you know? That's just one thing too, he's just happy and just brightens the room, and we all love him and just have fun,” Mikal said. “Shout out to my boy HG. He works hard and waits for his moment, and you know, is always cheering his teammates on and staying confident when he's ready."
