The San Antonio Spurs might not be lighting up the standings just yet, but make no mistake - this franchise is laying the groundwork for something special. With a roster built around young, high-upside talent, the Spurs are quietly assembling one of the most promising futures in the NBA. And while Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle have rightfully drawn the lion’s share of attention, it’s the development of this year’s rookie class that’s turning heads inside league circles.
Midway through the season, the Spurs’ rookies are earning high marks - literally. A recent evaluation of rookie classes across the league gave San Antonio an impressive A-minus, and it’s not hard to see why. Two names in particular - Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant - are showing the kind of growth that front offices dream about when draft night rolls around.
Let’s start with Harper. The rookie guard came into the league with plenty of buzz, but he’s not chasing headlines - he’s just quietly producing.
Coming off the bench in every game so far, Harper is averaging 11 points per night on an efficient 46 percent shooting from the field. That’s not just solid - that’s impactful, especially considering he’s playing behind established guards like De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
Harper’s ability to contribute in limited minutes speaks volumes about his readiness and potential.
Now, he’s not without areas to improve. His three-point shot is still a work in progress - hovering around 25 percent from deep.
That’s the one stat holding him back from an even higher grade. But the Spurs are playing the long game here, and Harper’s all-around game, poise, and ability to get downhill already point to a player who could become a key piece in San Antonio’s future backcourt.
Then there’s Carter Bryant - a wing who’s starting to look more and more like a draft-day steal. After a bit of a slow start to the season, Bryant has found his footing and is beginning to show why the Spurs were so high on him.
Over his last four outings, he’s averaging around 10 points and four boards, but the real story is his shooting. He’s knocking down nearly 43 percent of his threes in that stretch, and that kind of range from a young wing is exactly what modern NBA teams crave.
Bryant’s confidence is growing, and it’s showing up in the box score. He’s playing with more decisiveness, spacing the floor effectively, and looking increasingly comfortable in San Antonio’s system. For a team that’s building around a generational big in Wembanyama, having a floor-spacing wing who can defend and hit shots is a huge win.
The Spurs’ A-minus grade isn’t just a pat on the back - it’s a sign that this rookie class is already contributing to the team’s long-term vision. Harper and Bryant may not be headlining highlight reels every night, but they’re doing the kind of work that builds a foundation. And in San Antonio, that foundation is starting to look rock solid.
So while the Spurs may still be in the early stages of their rebuild, the pieces are falling into place. With Wembanyama, Castle, and now Harper and Bryant all trending upward, the Spurs aren’t just collecting talent - they’re developing it. And that’s how dynasties are born.