During the Spurs’ dominant win over the Grizzlies - their second blowout of Memphis this season - a familiar voice chimed in with a high-profile co-sign. Longtime San Antonio broadcaster and former NBA champion Sean Elliott shared a text he received from none other than Tim Duncan.
The message? Simple, straight to the point, and very Duncan-esque:
“Dylan Harper is a stud.”
When the greatest power forward of all time gives you that kind of nod, people take notice. But truth be told, the rest of the league is already catching on.
Every time Dylan Harper steps on the floor, he adds another clip to the growing highlight reel and another layer to the hype. Against Memphis, he put up 15 points and six assists in just 21 minutes, shooting 5-of-10 from the field.
But it wasn’t just the numbers - it was the way he played. Confident, smooth, and fearless.
He went right at 7-foot-4 Zach Edey at the rim and came out on top more than once. That’s not something you see every day from a rookie.
And yet, that’s been the story of this Spurs team all season - no one guy is trying to play hero. They’re building something together, and you can feel it in the way they move the ball, the way they celebrate each other’s plays, and the way veterans like Harrison Barnes talk about the group postgame.
This is a team-first operation, and Harper fits right in. But let’s be honest - when Tim Duncan sends a message like that, you stop and pay attention.
Can Dylan Harper Make a Push for Rookie of the Year?
Now, let’s talk about the big picture. Could Harper make a legitimate run at Rookie of the Year?
The short answer: it’s possible. The longer answer: he’s going to have to earn every bit of it.
Right now, Kon Knueppel has the inside track. The Hornets rookie has burst onto the scene with a mix of scoring, effort, and maturity that’s hard to ignore.
He’s been the early-season frontrunner, and deservedly so. He’s got the numbers, the consistency, and the mindset that voters love.
His recent comments about effort and winning only reinforced what we’ve already seen on the court - the kid’s wired the right way.
But Knueppel isn’t the only obstacle in Harper’s path. Cooper Flagg has started to find his rhythm, and when he’s locked in, he looks like the elite two-way force scouts projected.
Then there’s Cedric Coward, who the Spurs just faced. He’s already showing flashes - great size, versatile skill set, and a motor that doesn’t quit.
He’s not just potential anymore; he’s production.
And we can’t forget about Derik Queen and VJ Edgecombe - two more rookies who are carving out roles and making their presence felt. This rookie class is deep, and the competition is real.
But Harper has something unique in his corner: he’s grown up around this game. His father, Ron Harper Jr., spent years in the league.
That kind of upbringing matters. It gives you a head start on the mental side of the game - the travel, the grind, the expectations.
And that could be the difference as the season wears on.
The Rookie Wall? Don’t Bet on It
One of the toughest parts of a rookie season is the sheer volume of games. College players aren’t used to the 82-game marathon, and it shows.
Fatigue hits. Legs get heavy.
Focus slips. But Harper doesn’t look like a guy who’s going to fade when the calendar flips to January.
He’s already showing signs of being well-conditioned, mentally and physically. He understands what it takes to last in this league, and more importantly, he looks like he’s built for it. If anything, his game suggests he’s just getting started.
So when the others - Knueppel, Flagg, Coward - inevitably hit their rookie speed bumps, Harper will need to hit the gas. That’s how you make a late-season push. That’s how you keep San Antonio’s unprecedented streak of Rookie of the Year winners alive.
Three in a row would be historic. But if you’ve watched Harper play, if you’ve seen the poise, the strength, the IQ - you know it’s not out of reach.
He’s not just a part of the Spurs’ future. He might be the next big thing in San Antonio.
Or, to borrow a line from Tim Duncan: he’s a stud.