By the luck of the gods, the San Antonio Spurs magically leaped upon the 2nd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. With the selection, there was only one painfully obvious decision to make: drafting Dylan Harper.
The Rutgers phenom was a menace in the college ranks and oozed with intrigue. Despite trading for De’Aaron Fox a few months prior, the choice was made to bring the point guard along.
Clamoring with excitement, Spurs fans have been dying to see what Harper has in store. However, many have questioned the rookie’s day-one impact for a team that is expecting to make its first playoff appearance in 6 years.
As a 19-year-old, would he be able to have his presence felt coming off the bench? While we don’t yet know the answer to the question, Victor Wembanyama shared an encouraging statement.
The Spurs superstar explained that, “He is a player that can have an impact on day one, and there aren’t a lot of guys you can say that with this much certainty about. But he’s poised, and his ability to control the game has been remarkable.” Following Harper’s electric preseason performances, Wembanyama’s belief in the rookie has skyrocketed. This should leave Spurs fans ecstatic.
Dylan Harper has proven he is ready to contribute from day one
In his return from a thumb injury that held him out of the Spurs’ first two preseason games, Harper made his debut against the Utah Jazz. In this game, the rookie showcased everything you would want to see. He displayed his improving shooting stroke, playmaking abilities, and excellent court awareness. Wembanyama’s comment was likely boosted by a showtime alley-oop produced by Harper.
As Wembanyama alluded, the 19-year-old looked astonishingly comfortable on an NBA floor and moved loosely around the court to help his team make winning plays. These traits are incredibly important as Harper is expected to man the secondary unit as the point guard.
The youngster will be tasked with a lot in year one, but if his early playmaking chops are any indication of what’s to come, then the Spurs should be walking out feeling amazing.
It may be sooner rather than later that Harper blossoms into the player we know he can be. With his vast toolbelt of skills, the Rutgers alum has the potential to be one of the best point guards in the NBA. If he truly is this caliber of player, then his early showcase of talent should be no surprise.
Wembanyama’s comments are incredibly encouraging and support the case that Harper is ahead of schedule. If so, the rookie could provide the playmaking boost that the Spurs need to elevate from pretender to a contender in 2026. I don’t know about you, but I am beyond excited to see what Dylan has in store for us.
