When the San Antonio Spurs selected Dylan Harper at No. 2 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, the general consensus was that De’Aaron Fox had been displaced. Despite being an All-NBA player only now entering their prime, Fox’s skill set seemingly conflicted with Harper’s.

It hasn’t taken long for Fox to prove that he can not only coexist with Harper, but help the rookie thrive in a way that only the Spurs expected to see transpire.

Fox and Harper have only briefly shared the court in 2025-26, due in no small part to both spending time on the sideline due to their respective injuries. Even when they’re not on the court together, however, the veteran is making the rookie’s life significantly easier.

Rather than joining a Spurs team that expects to make the playoffs in 2025-26 and being held to a veteran standard, Harper can simply play a typical rookie season due to Fox’s presence.

It’s the foundational element of how Fox has made it easier for Harper to adapt to the NBA and begin realizing his potential. Rather than being measured against the standard of helping Victor Wembanyama compete for a title, Harper has been viewed through the same lens as any other first-year player.

Without Fox on the roster leading the Spurs to consistent wins in Wembanyama’s absence, it’s fair to assume 2025-26 would be a painfully different experience for Harper.

De’Aaron Fox helps Dylan Harper avoid pressure of helping Wemby win

Harper is playing well for a first-year player, averaging 13.3 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 0.7 three-point field goals made in 21.3 minutes per game. He’s shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 78.9 percent at the free throw line, and has buried a tolerable 33.3 percent of his shots from three-point range.

Harper has also been a net positive, as databallr’s WOWY Lineup Data places the Spurs at a +7.8 with him on the court and a +2.8 when he isn’t.

For as intriguing as the data may be, Harper has undoubtedly benefited from the lack of pressure to perform. The Spurs aren’t just expected to make a leap from 34 wins in 2024-25 to a postseason-caliber figure in 2025-26, but to help Wembanyama compete at the highest level as he enters MVP territory as an individual player.

The pressure has mounted for the supporting cast with Wembanyama now sidelined by an injury and in need of the type of results that can prevent the season from being derailed until his return.

Thankfully, Harper’s job hasn’t changed much since Wembanyama went down. Fox is playing at the superstar level he displayed with the Sacramento Kings when he turned in an All-NBA season and helped the franchise end a 17-year postseason drought.

Fox is currently averaging 25.0 points and 6.3 assists per game—eerily similar averages to the 24.8 and 6.2 he’s tallied since 2020-21.

Dylan Harper can ease into his role because De’Aaron Fox is dominating

In addition to producing at a remarkable level, Fox has put the team on his back in the clutch and led the Spurs to a 7-2 record without Wembanyama. As a result, Harper hasn’t been placed under any type of magnifying lens—nor has his role changed all that significantly.

That’s made it far easier for Harper to return from a 10-game injury absence and slowly work his way into a high-usage role in Mitch Johnson’s system.

Harper has yet to play more than 22 minutes since he returned to the rotation. During that time, the Spurs have won games during which he’s shot 2-of-8 and 5-of-12 from the field respectively, with the latter game also seeing the rookie commit five turnovers.

It continues to be unclear how Harper and Fox will be able to coexist when sharing the court, but Fox’s presence has been instrumental to the rookie not coming under fire for needing time to develop. In turn, he’s been able to play his game and learn as he goes.

It’s a luxury most high-profile rookies aren’t afforded. More importantly, it may very well be the key to San Antonio unlocking Harper’s long-term superstar potential without unnecessary hurdles in his path.

Long-term questions still need to be answered, but keeping Fox on the roster after drafting Harper is paying dividends on every front.