When you enter the league as the son of a five-time NBA champion who won alongside Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, you definitely carry a chip on your shoulder. That’s the case with Dylan Harper. His father, Ron Harper, was also drafted high, eighth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 1986. Despite averaging 22.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.5 steals on 45.5 percent shooting in his rookie season, Harper didn’t win Rookie of the Year.
He finished second in what many considered a controversial decision behind Chuck Person but wasn’t discouraged. He had a fantastic NBA career, playing in over 1,000 games. Dylan followed in his footsteps, going second overall in this year’s NBA Draft, right behind Cooper Flagg, a clear sign that big things are expected of him.
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Fox and Castle are supposed to start in the backcourt
However, he’s joining the San Antonio Spurs team with an established leader in Victor Wembanyama, while NBA veteran De’Aaron Fox just signed a max extension. That duo is expected to be the core of the San Antonio Spurs moving forward. Last year’s Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, is also in the mix, which could cut into Harper’s role, because Fox and Castle are supposed to start in the backcourt. But Harper doesn’t see it as an issue, as he explained on 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony.
“You’re not going to get the keys all day. James Harden was with the Thunder and came off the bench sixth man for 3-4 years waiting for his turn so everyone gotta wait for they turn. So that’s kind of how I looked at it” Harper said.
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Grounded and humble perspective
For a 19-year-old who dominated in the NCAA last season with 19.4 points per game and has every right to be over the moon after being drafted second overall. Harper leaves an impression as a grounded and humble young man, clearly showing the influence of his father, Ron. In the ’90s, Ron could’ve been the first option on almost any team, but in his prime, he went to the Chicago Bulls to win titles. For the first time in his career, he faced coming off the bench and not being the focal point of the offense, as his scoring dropped from 20.1 to a staggering 6.9 points per game, but all in the service of winning championships.
While it’s unlikely Harper will ever be the face of the Spurs with Wembanyama there, the comparisons he draws to James Harden are spot on. After being drafted third overall, the Beard averaged just 9.9 points as a rookie off the bench. Harden put up 20.1 points and 4.2 assists in his sophomore season in college, but accepted being behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in the pecking order. By his third year in OKC, Harden won Sixth Man of the Year while playing 31.4 minutes per game, as the rest of his career is well known. That’s the perspective Harper is taking.
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Harper truly has nothing to fear
Still, many NBA analysts questioned why the Spurs drafted Harper when they already had Fox and Castle, but Patrick Beverley doesn’t see an issue with the Spurs picking another guard as number two.
“I think one thing we know about the San Antonio Spurs and their organization, they’re gonna develop their players. That’s one thing we do know. Playing in that system, it gives you the ability to play off the catch, gives you the ability to shoot a ton of 3’s. They give their young guys a ton of confidence early, so I like this pick for them. Ain’t nothing wrong with more ball-handlers, I’ll tell you that,” Beverley said.
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And Beverley is right. Manu Ginobili accepted a role from the bench and still reached his full potential in San Antonio, so Harper has nothing to fear. For the Spurs, Harden’s example in OKC should also remind them to be careful when it comes to contract extensions if Harper proves to be the real deal. But that’s a question for the future. First, we need to see how the son of an NBA legend develops.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.