2025’s second total decide, Dylan Harper, has star potential however will doubtless begin his profession coming off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have already got star De’Aaron Fox and reigning Rookie of the Yr Stephon Fort at level guard, forcing Harper to the bench.
After all, they must combine Harper into their rotation to maximise his potential. That might take time, however fortunately, Harper seems greater than high quality with having to work his approach up on the Spurs.
“Everybody received to attend for his or her flip. That is how I type of take a look at it,” – Dylan Harper
Spurs rookie Dylan Harper talks about ready for his flip within the league, talks James Harden…. #nba #porvida #sanantonio #gospursgo (by way of 7pminbrooklyn) pic.twitter.com/zgimsZXCue
— JeffGSpursKENS5 (@JeffGSpursZone) August 20, 2025
Spurs followers ought to welcome Harper’s obvious eagerness to embrace a job off the bench. It is because he’ll doubtless want to come back off the bench for a minimum of the primary season of his profession. After that, it is unsure, however he will not begin alongside Fox and Fort. No less than not at first.
Dylan Harper could possibly be the Spurs’ James Harden
Harper not solely appears high quality coming off the bench however even invoked former Sixth Man of the Yr James Harden’s identify. Harden undoubtedly achieved larger success as soon as he grew to become a starter. Nevertheless, he started his profession with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, initially serving as a Sixth Man for the primary three seasons of his profession.
That was after he was chosen third total within the 2009 NBA Draft, offering Harper with a possible profession blueprint to observe. Harden shortly emerged as an elite participant, even profitable Sixth Man of the Yr in simply his third season. By his fourth season, he was beginning on the Houston Rockets and was an all-star.
The Spurs most likely would not let it get to that time, and Harper does have all-star potential, however they are going to first should type out their level guard scenario. Fox is clearly the very best participant within the trio, however his contract may not permit for the Spurs to maintain him. Fort has two-way potential, however his star potential hinges on his 3-point shot.
In the meantime, Harper is arguably the very best playmaker of the three, persistently will get to the rim, and has the potential to be the right long-term co-star to Victor Wembanyama. The probably state of affairs is that they finally play all three collectively and see if that is a viable possibility. Nonetheless, that is not sustainable long-term.
Harper is the Spurs’ future at level guard, not De’Aaron Fox
Fort’s rookie contract ends in three seasons, and San Antonio cannot afford to pay Fox and Wembanyama the max and Fort the rookie max, plus Harper. Not going to occur.
Extra doubtless, assuming Fort and Harper develop as anticipated, they are going to look to maneuver on from Fox after two or three seasons. That will give Harper time to develop like Harden did with the Thunder.
In the end, Harper’s willingness to come back off the bench for the primary few seasons of his profession could possibly be an enormous assist to the Spurs. They might use that point to type out their crowded level guard scenario and be higher for it in the long term.
