Victor Wembanyama is headed toward another Olympic stage in 2028, and this time the setup looks even bigger. The Spurs star is expected to be in Los Angeles with France, where he’ll get another crack at Team USA after taking silver in Paris. With Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James all having aged out, the next American challenge is likely to come from a younger group led by names like Cooper Flagg and Chet Holmgren.
That’s where San Antonio’s other big Olympic storyline comes in: Dylan Harper.
Harper is gaining momentum as a possible Team USA addition, and the fit makes sense. The Americans could use a backcourt scorer who can also run the offense, and Harper has already shown he can accept a smaller role on a winning team. That kind of approach helped players like Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Bam Adebayo earn bigger minutes in Paris than Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.
The 2024 U.S. backcourt featured Curry, Holiday, White, Haliburton, and Devin Booker. Curry and Holiday will be out of the picture by 2028, Haliburton didn’t play much in 2024 and probably won’t return, and White could be squeezed out by a bigger star. Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham are considered favorites to make the team, but Harper is pushing into the conversation.
If Harper does make the roster, the Spurs would have a player on both sides of the gold-medal race. Wembanyama for France.
Harper for the United States. San Antonio would be in position to win gold either way.
The international field won’t be empty, of course. Serbia, Canada, Germany, Slovenia, and Australia are all mentioned as strong contenders, but the source frames them as part of a second tier behind the top medal threats.
The Spurs already have a deep Olympic connection. Manu Ginobili, Keldon Johnson, David Robinson, and Gregg Popovich all won gold while playing for or coaching San Antonio. Tim Duncan and Wembanyama each came away with bronze and silver, respectively, while with the Spurs, and Patty Mills and Aron Baynes helped Australia claim its first bronze after their time in San Antonio.
Harper’s spot on Team USA is not guaranteed, but if he gets the nod from head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Spurs’ Olympic medal outlook becomes awfully hard to miss.
In Other News...
Shaq Just Put The Spurs In A Different Conversation
Shaquille ONeal has a way of turning a conversation about the Spurs into something bigger, and he did it again at Fanatics Fest. ONeal voiced real confidence in Victor Wembanyama and San Antonios direction, framing the young star as the kind of rare, versatile big man who can lift a franchise back into championship territory.
The more interesting part is where ONeal sees the path getting difficult. He pointed to the Oklahoma City Thunder as the Spurs most likely hurdle in the Western Conference, but still sounded convinced San Antonio can get through it if Wembanyama keeps taking over games. For a team still building around its centerpiece, that kind of belief from a Hall of Fame center says plenty about how far the Spurs have already come in the leagues eyes. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Believe Wembanyama May Be One Change From Offensive Takeoff
San Antonios offense has spent plenty of time looking for easier answers than the ones that come from the perimeter, and the middle of the floor may be where the next step starts. The Spurs added Tobias Harris, whose comfort in the mid-range gives them another veteran option in the spots where defenses have to make quick decisions, and that fits neatly with a broader push to make the offense less predictable.
Victor Wembanyama is the real swing piece, though, because the Spurs believe his path to a bigger leap could come from developing in the same areas. If he can become a threat from the free-throw line and the elbows, it changes the geometry of everything around him and gives San Antonio a more versatile way to attack. The idea is simple enough, even if the payoff still has to be earned on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Rookie Dylan Harper Is Already Becoming A Huge Collector Name
Dylan Harpers rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs has already pushed him into a different kind of spotlight, one that follows players off the court and into the hobby. The first-round buzz around his cards has been building quickly, and that momentum will be on display Friday when Harper makes his first appearance at the National Sports Collectors Convention, joining an eBay Live break with seller Blez.
Harper is not the only name from the family showing up in Chicago. Ron Harper Sr. is set for a Saturday eBay Live stream tied to Michael Jordan collectibles, adding another layer to a weekend that already has plenty of collector intrigue around the Spurs rookie. For a player whose cards have become a hot item so early, the convention is the latest reminder that his market is moving almost as fast as his basketball profile. [Read more 🡒]