Duke basketball: Harry Giles surprises young fan after canceled game
Former Duke basketball standout Harry Giles surprised some young Sacramento Kings fans after COVID-19 canceled what would have been one’s first basketball game.
There’s no debating that the coronavirus has sent the sports world into a tailspin and fans have no idea what to do without their favorite games and athletes, but the sudden postponement of the NBA was a heartbreaker for one young fan.
Minutes before the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans were about to tipoff on March 11, the news came down that the league would be suspending the season and the game would not be played.
The cameras in the Golden 1 Center caught a young Kings fan who was very upset and appeared to claim that it was going to be her first game.
Little girl at postponed Kings game crying...appears to say 'This is my first game" while hugging her dad. pic.twitter.com/qgVMN77mSk
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) March 12, 2020
With still no clarity on a potential resumption of the NBA season, Kings forward and former Duke basketball star Harry Giles delivered a special message to the girl, Sophie, and her family.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-xKl7bnl_L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Giles assured the fans that once the league resumes and fans are allowed back in the stands, they will be at a Sacramento Kings game, and it looks like Giles also sent over some Kings gear, including his own No. 20 jersey.
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The former Blue Devil has battled injuries thought his collegiate and professional career, but in his second season on the court with the Kings, he has played in 38 games, starting 17, and is averaging 2.6 points 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
Sacramento was in the thick of the Western Conference Playoffs once the season was postponed, holding a 28-36 record, three and a half games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the conference.
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Harry Giles is in the final year of his contract with the Sacramento Kings, so if the 2019-20 season does not resume, Giles could be on a different team before Sophie and her family see the Kings play.