Why the Spurs Have Zero Regrets About Drafting Dylan Harper
The re-draft season is back in full swing, and with it comes the usual wave of second-guessing. This time, the conversation has turned to San Antonio and the 2025 NBA Draft, with some suggesting the Spurs should have taken Kon Knueppel over Dylan Harper.
One recent re-draft even flipped the script entirely, sending Harper down the board while elevating Knueppel into the top four. But let’s be clear about one thing: the Spurs would-and should-draft Harper ten times out of ten.
Context Matters, and Harper’s in a Unique One
There’s a tendency to look at raw stats and jump to conclusions. But numbers don’t live in a vacuum.
Dylan Harper landed in San Antonio on a team that’s deeper than most lottery squads. He’s not being asked to carry the offense like some of his draft classmates.
Instead, he’s one part of a dynamic three-guard rotation that’s helped push the Spurs into contender territory earlier than expected.
That’s not a knock on Harper-it’s a testament to how well he’s adapted to a winning environment. He’s playing meaningful basketball in a structured system, and when he’s given the green light, his talent flashes in a big way.
His ability to get to his spots, control pace, and make plays off the bounce is already showing signs of elite upside. He’s not just playing within the system-he’s helping elevate it.
The Knueppel Comparison Misses the Bigger Picture
Let’s talk about the Knueppel vs. Harper debate for a second.
Knueppel has impressed early with his shooting and polish, no doubt. But to suggest that Harper hasn’t shown elite skill because he’s not putting up eye-popping numbers?
That’s missing the forest for the trees.
Take VJ Edgecombe, for example. He stayed at No. 3 in the same re-draft, despite shooting just 34% from deep in college and doing most of his damage on the ball-just like Harper.
Yet nobody’s questioning that pick. Why?
Because the Sixers saw his talent and trusted the fit. That’s exactly what the Spurs did with Harper.
The difference? Edgecombe walked into a situation where he could take on more offensive volume right away.
Harper, on the other hand, joined a team that already had capable ball-handlers and playmakers. His usage is lower, but his impact is still felt.
He’s not being held back-he’s learning how to win.
The Spurs Are Playing Chess, Not Checkers
San Antonio isn’t building their roster with a cookie-cutter approach. They’re not chasing archetypes-they’re building a cohesive unit.
And in that context, Harper makes perfect sense. Some critics argue the Spurs needed a shooter more than another playmaker.
But that’s a false choice. You don’t have to sacrifice one to get the other.
The Spurs already have playmakers. What they need is to round out the rotation with shooting, not replace foundational pieces. Knueppel might be a better shooter right now, but Harper brings a different kind of value-one rooted in versatility, feel, and long-term upside.
And let’s not forget: coming into the draft, Harper was widely seen as the No. 2 prospect behind Cooper Flagg. That wasn’t a fluke.
That was based on years of scouting, performance, and projection. His skill set didn’t vanish overnight-it’s just being channeled differently in San Antonio.
No Regrets in the 2-1-0
Here’s the bottom line: the Spurs are the No. 2 seed in the West. They’re ahead of schedule, playing winning basketball, and developing a young core that’s already showing real chemistry.
There’s no crisis. No buyer’s remorse.
No reason to hit the re-draft panic button.
Harper is a big part of why this team is thriving. He’s learning how to contribute in a winning context, something most rookies don’t get to experience right away. And when the training wheels come off, he’s going to be even more dangerous.
So if we’re talking about re-drafts, hypotheticals, and what-ifs, let’s not lose sight of what’s actually happening on the floor. The Spurs got their guy-and they’re not looking back.