Dylan Harper isn’t buying the idea that there’s any tension with De’Aaron Fox.
The Spurs rookie made that clear while addressing the chatter around his place in San Antonio’s backcourt, where the presence of Fox and Stephon Castle has fueled plenty of discussion about how the pieces will eventually fit. Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, answered those questions by showing he can thrive as a sixth man during the 2025-26 season, and he carried that role through both the regular season and the Playoffs.
Fox, meanwhile, drew the bulk of the criticism over the summer after a postseason that fell short of expectations, including what the source described as underwhelming play in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. Harper’s strong Playoff run only added to the noise around who should be starting and who should be the long-term focal point.
But Harper says there’s no friction between the two guards.
"Me and him never had a problem. I’ve never seen a problem playing with two to three ball-handlers on the floor.
Everyone last year said that it was not going to work, but I think we exceeded expectations a lot. All I care about is doing what’s best for the team and winning, and he is a big factor in us winning now and in the future," Harper said in an interview with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson.
That’s the heart of it for Harper: team fit over ego. The Spurs may eventually lean toward him as the long-term project, especially with Castle and Victor Wembanyama in the mix, but for now they’re still counting on Fox to help them chase a championship.
Harper’s Playoff performance also made the case that he could become the team’s go-to scoring option down the line. Whether he eventually overtakes Fox for a larger role or not, he’s already established himself as one of the most promising guards in recent history - and he’s content to keep making his mark off the bench for now.
In Other News...
Victor Wembanyama Just Landed A New Spurs Role
Victor Wembanyama is heading into the upcoming season with a different kind of responsibility in San Antonio. Along with the pressure that comes with his own rise, he is expected to help guide the Spurs new frontcourt additions and set the tone for a young group that will be leaning on him for more than just production on the floor.
For Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., that means a chance to learn behind a player who has already established himself as the centerpiece of the teams future. Wembanyamas influence could shape not only how the rookies develop, but also how quickly they adjust to the demands and mentality the Spurs want in their rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Steph Curry To Spurs Buzz Suddenly Feels Worth Watching
The offseason chatter around Golden State has kept Steph Curry in the rumor mill, and the noise has only gotten louder after the Warriors failed to make meaningful roster upgrades. ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins even floated the idea that Curry should think about moving on, which is the kind of comment that naturally sends speculation spinning in every direction. For San Antonio, it is at least easy to see why the idea has traction, given the Spurs mix of young talent and the kind of long-term flexibility that always invites bigger-swing conversations.
The buzz gets especially interesting because one speculative framework has Curry landing in San Antonio in a deal built around Dylan Harper, DeAaron Fox and future draft capital. It is still firmly in the realm of analysis, not anything close to a real transaction, but it is the sort of proposal that forces you to think about where the Spurs want to press their timeline and what they would be willing to move to do it. Even as the scenario remains hypothetical, it feels like the rare kind of star rumor that fits San Antonios broader rise well enough to keep watching. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Harper Just Changed The Spurs Debate Around DeAaron Fox
Dylan Harper has spent his first year around a Spurs team trying to sort out both its present and its backcourt future, and he does not sound interested in turning De'Aaron Fox into a roster problem. Harper pointed to Fox as a meaningful part of San Antonios success now and down the road, a notable endorsement in a season where the guard rotation and Foxs contract have both been part of the conversation.
Harper also made clear that the fit questions others might raise are not his concern. He said playing alongside multiple ball-handlers has never bothered him, which only adds another layer to a Spurs guard situation that already has plenty of moving pieces. Foxs role in Harpers development is part of that story, and it leaves San Antonio with a familiar kind of good problem as it weighs how to keep this group together. [Read more 🡒]