The Spurs’ next leap may come down to one simple thing: getting Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama fully in sync.
San Antonio has bigger dreams than just building for the future, of course. A title is still the endgame.
But if the Spurs want to get there, they need their young core to grow together, and the Harper-Wembanyama pairing sits right at the center of that plan. Alongside Stephon Castle, those are the names that can shape what comes next.
Castle already showed how valuable that connection can be. During the playoffs last year, he did a strong job of setting Wembanyama up and serving as a lead passer for the Spurs. Now the challenge is for Harper to take on a similar role, with more pick-and-roll work between him and Wembanyama so he can learn exactly where the big man likes the ball.
That chemistry has to become a real weapon, not just a promising idea.
Heading into next season, Harper and De’Aaron Fox appear likely to share the backcourt. Harper could still come off the bench, but he looks like a starting-caliber player either way. A lineup featuring Fox, Harper, Castle, Julian Champagnie, and Wembanyama makes a lot of sense, especially with Castle able to guard up and three playmakers ready to get Wembanyama the ball.
Fox and Castle already have a head start when it comes to building that offensive connection with Wembanyama. They’ve simply had more time in the system. Harper is newer to the mix, but that doesn’t make him any less important.
If anything, it makes him more central to what the Spurs are trying to build.
His playoff run last year, especially in the Finals, showed why. The 20-year-old looks like one of the brightest young stars in the league, and he’s doing it next to another one in Wembanyama. Wembanyama already has a case as the best player in the NBA, and while his defense is already elite, the next step is continuing to sharpen the offensive side.
Harper can help push that forward. The more comfortable he gets running pick-and-roll with Wemby, the easier life gets for both of them.
So as Harper heads into what should be a major sophomore season, one of the biggest priorities is obvious: keep building that offensive partnership with Wembanyama.
If the Spurs can get those two on the same page consistently, their offense could become awfully hard to deal with.
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 🡒]