Superstars are known for being loud, flashy and always showing up on highlight reels. But the true superstar of the Denver Outlaws isn’t focused on any of that; he just wants to win.

JT Giles-Harris won the Dave Pietramala Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2022, and the lockdown defender is a finalist for the honor once again this year. In addition to another DPOY nomination, Giles-Harris also is up for the Dave Huntley Sportsmanship Award.

Giles-Harris’s demeanor and work ethic make him an easy player to build around. Since debuting in 2022, he’s been one of the best at his position in the world and one of the best players on the Outlaws roster.

“He's humble, he doesn't say much, he just goes about his business, he’s tough” Outlaws head coach Tim Soudan said. “What else could you ask for in a player?”

Giles-Harris focuses on executing and doing his job on game days. He’s not a loud vocal leader or a feisty trash talker, but he sets an example for the team by locking in and doing what he needs to do.

And what he does is dominate opposing attackers.

Of the five finalists for Defensive Player of the Year, Giles-Harris is allowing the lowest shooting percentage as the closest defender (17.8%). He’s a true lockdown cover defender who’s handled every type of matchup this season.

But Giles-Harris isn’t satisfied.

“I think I did, overall, OK this year,” Giles-Harris said. “I definitely could have been better.”

Giles-Harris is used to competing at the highest level. At Duke, he reached the Final Four three times. He won gold with Team USA at last summer’s World Lacrosse Championships. As a pro, those championship stakes are what he’s after.

In his rookie year, the team made the playoffs with the second-best record in the league. But it was a short-lived playoff run as the Chrome were trounced by the Chaos 11-3 in the first round.

Giles-Harris said the team, and himself, weren't truly ready for the intensity that comes with playoff lacrosse.

“Older guys were saying how different it is [in the playoffs],” Giles-Harris said. “I didn't truly believe it. And, you know, I felt it. And we got smacked.”

With such a young team with so little playoff experience, Giles-Harris is focused on that mentality. He wants the team to truly understand what playoff intensity looks like and, in turn, how fun it is to compete when it means most.

“Knowing what it is this time around, it's cool because, just trying to emphasize, you gotta be on it all the time, because it's just that much more intense and that much more fun,” Giles-Harris said.

Giles-Harris loves the high-profile moments on the field. On any given week, he could be guarding a former Tewaaraton winner, a former MVP or a five-time All-Pro. But that, he said, is what’s great about playing in the PLL.

“It's kind of why I like to play and compete in the sport, just playing against the best. So it's enjoyable every time you get to do it,” Giles-Harris said.

Denver will face three of the best attackmen in the league next Monday in its quarterfinal matchup against the Maryland Whipsnakes. Former MVPs Matt Rambo and Zed Williams, alongside Rookie of the Year finalist TJ Malone, will present a stiff test for Giles-Harris and the Outlaws.

But he’s already focused and ready for the test, especially after losing to the Whipsnakes in Denver earlier this season.

“I think we're all pretty excited,” Giles-Harris said. “Obviously we don't have the great taste in our mouth last time we played these guys, so we're kind of ready for the challenge.”