Spurs Took Their Swing with Dylan Harper - But Did They Miss on Kon Knueppel?
When the Spurs were on the clock with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, there really wasn’t much debate. Dylan Harper was the guy - a dynamic, high-upside guard with star potential written all over him.
But as we inch deeper into his rookie season, it’s fair to say the early returns haven’t quite matched the hype. And with Kon Knueppel thriving in Charlotte, it’s hard not to wonder what could’ve been in San Antonio.
Let’s start here: Harper still looks like a future star. That much hasn’t changed.
Even with a relatively quiet start to his NBA journey, he remains a cornerstone piece for the Spurs, and there’s no indication the franchise is even remotely interested in moving off him. He was a top target for several teams heading into the draft, and his ceiling remains sky-high.
But while Harper is still finding his footing, Knueppel has hit the ground running in Charlotte. He’s not the primary ball-handler - that job belongs to LaMelo Ball - and he’s not the go-to scorer either, with Brandon Miller continuing to emerge.
But Knueppel has found a way to flourish anyway, carving out a valuable role as a high-efficiency, low-maintenance weapon who complements his teammates beautifully. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact, and that’s exactly what he's been doing - producing and winning.
Even after Cooper Flagg dropped 49 points on him Thursday, Knueppel remains firmly in the Rookie of the Year conversation. That’s how consistent and effective he’s been.
So, would he have been a better fit in San Antonio?
It’s a fair question, especially when you look at the Spurs’ current roster construction. Harper’s development has been complicated by the presence of two other ball-dominant guards: Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox.
Sharing the backcourt with both has limited Harper’s opportunities, and the numbers reflect that. Through Saturday’s loss to the Hornets, Harper was averaging 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 44.4% from the field and just 23.7% from deep.
That’s not to say he won’t eventually break through - he very well could become the best player in his class. But in the here and now, the Spurs are a team on the rise.
Victor Wembanyama has already blossomed into a top-10 player in the league - The Ringer recently slotted him at No. 5 - and San Antonio currently sits second in the Western Conference standings. This isn’t a rebuilding team anymore.
It’s a team trying to win, and that means the supporting cast needs to contribute right now.
That’s where Knueppel might’ve made more sense. His shooting, his feel for the game, his ability to play off the ball - it all would’ve meshed seamlessly with Wembanyama, Castle, and Fox. Instead of trying to juggle three lead guards, the Spurs could’ve slotted Knueppel into a role that plays to his strengths and fills a clear team need.
Ironically, when the Spurs and Hornets faced off Saturday afternoon, Harper actually had the better individual performance. He scored a team-high 20 points, while Knueppel finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
But down the stretch, the difference in their roles was clear. Harper sat the final 10 minutes and change, buried behind Fox and Castle in the rotation.
Knueppel, on the other hand, was on the floor when it mattered - grabbing key rebounds and helping close out a 111-106 win for Charlotte.
So yes, the 2025 draft is looking like a home run for the Hornets. Knueppel has been exactly what they needed - efficient, adaptable, and winning basketball games. He may not be the savior of the franchise, but he's helped turn Charlotte into a legitimate play-in threat, and that’s saying something.
For the Spurs, the Harper pick is still about the long game. The talent is there.
The flashes are real. But with a roster ready to compete now, San Antonio has to walk a tightrope - developing a potential star while trying to win in the present.
And that’s never easy.