Dylan Harper Shines as Spurs Await Wembanyama and Castle’s Return
SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs are still without their two young stars, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, heading into Tuesday night’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. Both remain sidelined, listed as out on the latest injury report.
The good news? They’re trending in the right direction.
Each is back on the court doing individual workouts, and while they won’t suit up just yet, it’s clear their returns aren’t far off.
In the meantime, another rookie is stepping into the spotlight - and making the most of his moment.
Dylan Harper’s Breakout Performance
After missing three weeks with a calf strain, Dylan Harper wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s one of the most exciting young players on this Spurs roster. On Sunday night, the rookie came off the bench and dropped 17 points in just 20 minutes against Minnesota - and he did it with confidence, attacking none other than former Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
This wasn’t a timid return. Harper went right at Gobert, repeatedly, showing off the kind of poise and shot-making that suggests he’s not just back - he’s ready to take a bigger role.
“Yeah, definitely,” Harper said postgame when asked about finding his rhythm again. “Just like you said, getting back in the rhythm, knowing where I need to be on the floor.
Honestly, my teammates do a great job putting me in the right spots to win, and I just go out there and play my game. I try not to overthink it, but these games are definitely helping me get back to myself.”
It’s clear Harper is settling in. He’s finding his spots, trusting the system, and playing with an edge that’s hard to ignore. The Spurs needed someone to step up with Wembanyama and Castle out - and Harper is answering the call.
Coach Johnson Sees Progress - But Wants More
While Harper’s offensive spark was a bright spot, head coach Mitch Johnson isn’t letting the rookie off the hook. He praised Harper’s aggression driving the basketball but pointed to areas that still need work.
“He needs more than zero rebounds and zero assists,” Johnson said bluntly.
And that wasn’t the only critique. Defensively, the Spurs struggled mightily, giving up 17 made threes to Minnesota. Johnson pointed to breakdowns in communication and rotations - the kind of lapses that turn close games into uphill battles.
“Yeah, miscommunications or bad rotations out of it, which then led to it being open,” Johnson explained. “You do it playing the clock because it's hard, and you start scrambling for 18 seconds.
It's hard to chase the ball that long if you're not connected on the back end. Know where your rotations are.
Communicate through it. You should be a little more able to still have a contest and some resistance.
And there were some real breakdowns, and they made us pay.”
These are the growing pains of a young team, no doubt. But they’re also teachable moments - and Johnson is making sure his players hear the message loud and clear.
What’s Next for San Antonio
The Spurs return home briefly to host the Grizzlies on Tuesday before heading back on the road for a tough back-to-back: at Orlando on Wednesday, then Cleveland on Friday. It’s a demanding stretch, especially with two key pieces still sidelined.
But the real date Spurs fans have circled is next Wednesday, December 10 - the quarterfinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament. After winning their group, San Antonio earned a spot in the knockout round, and there’s hope that Wembanyama and Castle might be back in time for that one.
That might be a bit optimistic, but the fact that both are already doing on-court work is encouraging. Whether they’re ready for that big stage or not, the Spurs are building something - and if Sunday night was any indication, Dylan Harper is ready to be a part of it.
For now, it's about weathering the storm, tightening up the defense, and continuing to develop the next wave of Spurs talent. The future is coming - and it might be arriving faster than expected.