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NBA: Dark horse candidates for 2018-19 awards

By Jacob Doole

NBA Indiana Pacers Victor Oladipo (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NBA Indiana Pacers Victor Oladipo (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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GREENBURGH, NY – AUGUST 11: Harry Giles of the Sacramento Kings poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY – AUGUST 11: Harry Giles of the Sacramento Kings poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. 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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Rookie of the Year

Harry Giles, Sacramento Kings

Ben Simmons set the trend last year, winning the Rookie of the Year after missing a full season with injury. Could Harry Giles join him this year?

Unlike Simmons, Giles had an extensive injury history before he even got to the league. That’s why the hype around him has been on a steady decline since he was ESPN’s No. 1 overall recruit at the end of his high school career.

After three knee surgeries and a redshirt rookie year, though, he looks to finally be healthy again. And despite not playing an official game since his college career at Duke, which was shaky at best, he has looked surprisingly polished in the preseason.

There have been few signs of rust, as Giles has shown his potential on both ends. While his numbers haven’t been eye-popping, his highlights grab your attention. It’s hard not to imagine how good he could be with a consistent run of health.

With a fluid mid-range jump shot, soft touch around the basket and good defensive instincts, Giles has all the tools to be successful in the league. He should improve as he adjusts to the NBA, and to basketball in general, after so many injury layoffs.

That process has already started, and even he is surprised at how quickly it’s progressing. Speaking after his preseason debut, as per James Ham, he said:

"“It went well. It went better than expected. It actually slowed down a little bit faster than I expected and I just had a great time out there.”"

It’s a bit of a long shot, but if he can continue to develop at this rate he could find a place in Sacramento’s starting lineup sooner rather than later. They have a wealth of young big men, including number four overall pick Marvin Bagley, but a healthy Giles could trump them all.

If that is the case, he should be able to put up the numbers needed to win this award. His versatility and potential make him a good chance for long-term success, and an underrated pick in the short term.

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