The San Antonio Spurs are no strangers to life on the road - the annual Rodeo Road Trip has long been part of the franchise’s DNA. But even by their standards, this current stretch of the schedule is a grind. From late November into mid-December, the Spurs are playing eight of nine games away from the Frost Bank Center, with only a brief home stop against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 2 offering a break in the travel.
For rookie guard Dylan Harper, this isn’t just a tough stretch - it’s a full-on baptism into the NBA lifestyle.
“This is my welcome to the league moment,” Harper said, candidly summing up what many first-year players come to learn: the NBA season is as much about endurance as it is about talent.
Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in this past summer’s draft, recently returned to the court after missing three and a half weeks. His comeback came in Portland during a grueling road swing that also included stops in Phoenix, Denver, and Minneapolis. It wasn’t just the basketball that tested him - it was the relentless travel.
“We've been on the road for, what, nine days?” he said, more in disbelief than as an actual question. “Now, we're about to go back for - I don't know how long we’re going to go on the road for.”
And he’s not exaggerating. Right after their December 2 home game, the Spurs are back on a plane, heading to Orlando for a back-to-back against the Magic.
Two days after that, it’s Cleveland. Then it’s on to New Orleans for a December 8 matchup with the Pelicans.
And thanks to winning Group C of the NBA Cup, the Spurs have earned a December 10 showdown at the Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Group B champions. That game will determine whether they advance in the tournament or get a rare break before their next scheduled contest on December 17 against the Washington Wizards.
That’s a lot of miles, a lot of hotels, and not a lot of home-cooked meals.
But for Harper, it’s not just the travel that’s been an adjustment - it’s the little things, too.
“The hardest thing for me is just packing, honestly,” he said with a laugh. “Packing enough clothes. I think that's something that's very underrated.”
He’s making it work, though - with a little help from one of his off-court partners.
“Thank God we went to Portland - I was able to go to Nike,” he added, referencing the brand he signed with earlier this year. “But during this road trip, clothes been running tight.”
On the court, Harper is slowly finding his rhythm again. The 20-year-old point guard is working his way back into game shape and regaining his explosiveness - something that was evident in his minutes since returning.
“Yeah, definitely,” he said when asked if he’s starting to feel like himself again. “I think getting back in a rhythm, knowing where I need to be on the floor.”
He credits his teammates for helping ease the transition.
“They do a great job of just putting me in the right spots to win. I just go out there, play my game, and I just try not to overthink it.”
That mindset - simple, focused, team-first - is exactly what the Spurs have long valued in their players. And while Harper is still adjusting to the pace of the league, the reps he’s getting on this road-heavy stretch could be exactly what he needs to accelerate his development.
“These games are definitely helping me get back to myself,” he said.
A quick stop at home might help, too - even if it’s barely long enough to unpack.
“You’re home for like 36 hours and, like 24 hours, it’s crazy,” Harper said, shaking his head at the whirlwind schedule.
It’s not glamorous, but it’s real. And for a rookie trying to find his place in the league, it’s all part of the journey.