When the San Antonio Spurs selected Dylan Harper with the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, they knew they were getting a high-upside guard with elite vision and a knack for attacking the rim. What they might not have anticipated-at least not this quickly-is just how impactful he’d be in a reserve role. Harper hasn’t started a game yet, but he’s already changing the rhythm of the Spurs’ offense every time he steps on the floor.
Let’s be clear: Harper isn’t the best player on the Spurs, and he’s not rewriting the franchise’s Sixth Man history just yet. But what he is doing is carving out a role that’s becoming increasingly vital to San Antonio’s evolving identity-and he’s doing it with a confidence that’s hard to teach.
In the Spurs’ last two outings, Harper has led the team in scoring. That’s not a fluke.
He’s been getting downhill with ease, using his handle and burst to collapse defenses, then kicking out to open shooters like Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie. That part of his game was expected.
What’s turning heads is his perimeter shooting-specifically, how quickly it’s become a legitimate weapon.
Harper hit eight of his last 12 attempts from beyond the arc across those two games. For a player who shot just 33.3% from three in college, that’s a notable jump. But it’s not just the numbers-it’s the mindset behind them.
“I think shoot first, be aggressive later, and then if they close out hard enough, I’m just gonna drive the ball and try to get my teammates involved,” Harper said. “But the past two games, I mean, it’s just been a lot of preparation. When I go out there, I always tell myself, I’m gonna shoot the ball, I’m gonna shoot the ball-no second-guessing it.”
That’s the kind of mental shift that separates good rookies from great ones. Harper isn’t hesitating. He’s not playing like someone trying to fit in-he’s playing like someone who knows he belongs.
And the Spurs are reaping the benefits.
With Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox also clicking-both enjoying some of the most efficient stretches of their careers-San Antonio’s backcourt depth is starting to look like a real problem for opposing defenses. Add in the gravitational pull of Victor Wembanyama and the floor-spacing of Vassell and Champagnie, and Harper is often operating in wide-open lanes or with clean looks from deep.
Head coach Mitch Johnson sees it too.
“Dylan’s doing a great job of shot preparation and then he’s shooting with confidence,” Johnson said. “He’s making some, which obviously is going to give him positive feedback on what he’s doing.”
That feedback loop-confidence leading to makes, makes leading to more confidence-is exactly what you want to see from a young guard still finding his NBA rhythm. And it’s happening in real time.
Harper was billed as one of the top point guard prospects in recent memory, and now we’re starting to see why. He’s unlocking more of his game each night, and the Spurs are quietly assembling a trio of lead ball-handlers who can all score, pass, and create their own shot. That’s a rare luxury in today’s NBA.
It’s early, and there’s still plenty of room for growth. But if Harper keeps trending upward like this, San Antonio’s long-term outlook gets a whole lot brighter.