Dylan Harper — Back-to-Back-to-Back ROTY for the Spurs?

Dylan Harper — Back-to-Back-to-Back ROTY for the Spurs?

Next season in San Antonio is already shaping up to be unlike anything we’ve seen before. The Spurs aren’t just chasing a playoff return after years in the desert. They’re handing the keys to Mitch Johnson for his first full year as head coach. They’re getting Victor Wemyama and De’aran Fox back healthy. And the roster finally doesn’t look like a rebuild anymore. It looks like a team ready to move forward. But there’s another storyline, one the league has never witnessed. For the first time in NBA history, we could see three straight rookies of the year come from the same team. The Spurs already own the last two. Victor in 2023 24 Stefon Castle the year after. But what if the streak doesn’t stop there? What if this year Dylan Harper makes it three in a row? Back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners. Yeah, it’s happened before, but only five times in the entire history of the league. The last time was 10 years ago when Andrew Wiggins and Carl Anthony Towns did it for Minnesota. Before that, you’d have to go all the way back to the early ‘7s. But three in a row, that’s never happened. Not once. Which is why the Spurs might be on the edge of something historic. The streak really started two years ago with Victor Webbyama. His so-called main rival for rookie of the year was Cadet Homegrren. Technically a secondyear guy playing on a team that was winning a lot more games. Looking back now, that whole Webeby versus Cet narrative was manufactured. ESPN segments, debate shows, people needed something to argue about. There was never a real contest. Don’t get me wrong, Chad’s a really good player, and shout out to him for his current phenomenal gains in the weight room. But him and Wembi, they’re just on different levels. And Wemama proved it in the most direct way possible. that head-to-head moment against OKC when he erased chat at the rim in the clutch. One possession that made it crystal clear who runs that matchup that set the tone for what would become a spur streak in the rookie of the year race. Last season, Victor passed the torch to Stefon Castle, the number four pick who kept the streak alive. He got off to a slow start, losing ground not just to Jared McCain in Philly, but to several other rookies early on. But then things started clicking. Castle got more confident, earned more minutes, and started piling up points. He lit up the All-Star game as the leader of the rookie team and even crushed the dunk contest, losing only to professional dunker M. McClung. That performance made it obvious this kid is on his way to being a true all-star level player. From Wemby’s injury to the end of the season, Castle was the Spurs brightest star, dropping 20 plus points on a nightly basis. Sure, if Jared McCain had stayed healthy, maybe the race would have been tighter. But no other rookie could match what Castle did. He earned it. And just like that, the Spurs claimed Rookie of the Year for the second year in a row. Two straight Rookie of the Year titles are already in the Spurs pocket, and that’s impressive. But could they make NBA history with three in a row? The Spurs got incredibly lucky in the 2025 draft. Even with the eighth pick, they landed the second overall selection. And without any surprises, they went with Dylan Harper, a combo guard out of Ruckers. The 2025 draft class is loaded. And honestly, on almost any other draft in recent years, like 2024, Harper would have gone first overall without question. 6’5, explosive, skilled, elite finisher around the rim. He’s the kind of guard you usually only see go number one. Every team in the league would have loved to get their hands on a prospect like that. Talent-wise, Dylan Harper is absolutely in the Rookie of the Year conversation. But as always, two things matter. Who the competition is and what role he’s given. Which rookies get the minutes, the usage, the opportunities to shine in the box score and in front of the voters. That’s what will ultimately decide if the Spurs can pull off something the league has never seen. Three roadie awards in a row. Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. The main obstacle here is Cooper Flag, the main product in Duke Graduate, who landed in Dallas. Flag is the clear favorite for rookie of the year this season. He’s a physical freak, a versatile playmaker, an elite defender, and some are already calling him a generational talent, and the most complete player since LeBron, as if Victor Webeyama never existed. But I don’t think Dylan Harper’s path is blocked. It all comes down to roles. On paper, things don’t look great for Harper. The Spurs are a little crowded at guard and my projection is that he’ll start the season coming off the bench. Meanwhile, Flag is a guaranteed starter in Dallas. So, should we already hand the award to Cooper? Not so fast. I’m not hating on Flag just because he didn’t land in San Antonio. And honestly, he seemed bummed about that at the draft ceremony, too. But here’s the thing, Flag isn’t perfect. Like any rookie, he’ll need time to adjust to the NBA. His game relies heavily on athleticism and physical dominance. That worked in high school. That worked in college. But will it translate seamlessly to the pros? That’s the real question. Here’s where it gets interesting. Dylan Harper coming off the bench might actually work in his favor. Instead of carrying the team from day one, he can gradually ease into the league, find his rhythm, and shine against bench players. Limited minutes can mean more energy, more focus, and cleaner production. Every appearance becomes a chance to rack up stats and impress voters without the pressure of leading a team right away. Cooper Flag, on the other hand, faces the opposite challenge. Everyone expects him to be one of Dallas’s primary leaders immediately. The spotlight is relentless. Every possession, every play will be scrutinized. The pressure to perform as a starter day in and day out can lead to fatigue, mistakes, and inconsistency, especially early in the season. So, while Flag has the hype, the talent, and the starting role, Harper has the luxury of being able to develop his case quietly, efficiently, and maybe, just maybe, overtake the favorite when it really counts. Of course, Dylan Harper and Cooper Flag aren’t the only rookies who could make a run at Rookie of the Year. VJ Edgecomb has the tools to put up big numbers. Kong Nupal and Trey Johnson could also make waves on their teams. And don’t sleep on Ace Bailey. He might quietly put up strong stats in Utah. But despite all the potential challengers, the race really comes down to two players, Flag and Harper. Everyone else could make noise, surprise us, or even steal a few headlines. But when it comes to the actual award, the spotlight is squarely on these two. It’s shaping up to be a showdown between talent, opportunity, and how each player handles their role. Backto backtoback Rookie of the Year might sound like a fantasy, but the Spurs have really built an environment where it’s possible. Two years in a row, the award has come to San Antonio. And now Dylan Harper has the talent, the opportunity, and the system to potentially make it three. Even if Harper doesn’t end up winning, the very fact that this conversation is happening tells you everything about where this franchise is heading. They’ve become a team that develops stars, gives them the right roles, and creates chances for history to happen. So, the question remains, will Harper make history, or is this too wild even for the Spurs fairy tale? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Dylan Harper joins the San Antonio Spurs with a chance to make NBA history. After Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle won Rookie of the Year in back-to-back seasons, could Harper really make it three in a row? We break down Harper’s game, his competition with Cooper Flagg, and how the Spurs are building something special. From draft night surprises to ROTY narratives, this is a storyline every NBA fan needs to watch. Will San Antonio actually pull off the first ever back-to-back-to-back Rookie of the Year streak?