2025’s second general decide, Dylan Harper, has star potential however will probably 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 Fortress at level guard, forcing Harper to the bench.
After all, they must combine Harper into their rotation to maximise his potential. That would take time, however fortunately, Harper seems greater than positive with having to work his means up on the Spurs.
“Everybody received to attend for his or her flip. That is how I sort 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 (through 7pminbrooklyn) pic.twitter.com/zgimsZXCue
— JeffGSpursKENS5 (@JeffGSpursZone) August 20, 2025
Spurs followers ought to welcome Harper’s obvious eagerness to embrace a task off the bench. It is because he’ll probably want to come back off the bench for no less than the primary season of his profession. After that, it is unsure, however he will not begin alongside Fox and Fortress. At the very least not at first.
Dylan Harper may very well be the Spurs’ James Harden
Harper not solely appears positive coming off the bench however even invoked former Sixth Man of the Yr James Harden’s identify. Harden undoubtedly achieved higher success as soon as he grew to become a starter. Nonetheless, 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 general 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 kind out their level guard state of affairs. Fox is clearly one of the best participant within the trio, however his contract won’t enable for the Spurs to maintain him. Fortress has two-way potential, however his star potential hinges on his 3-point shot.
In the meantime, Harper is arguably one of the best playmaker of the three, constantly will get to the rim, and has the potential to be the proper long-term co-star to Victor Wembanyama. The almost certainly state of affairs is that they finally play all three collectively and see if that is a viable choice. Nonetheless, that is not sustainable long-term.
Harper is the Spurs’ future at level guard, not De’Aaron Fox
Fortress’s rookie contract ends in three seasons, and San Antonio cannot afford to pay Fox and Wembanyama the max and Fortress the rookie max, plus Harper. Not going to occur.
Extra probably, assuming Fortress and Harper develop as anticipated, they will 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 may very well be an enormous assist to the Spurs. They may use that point to kind out their crowded level guard state of affairs and be higher for it in the long term.
