Dylan Harper fitting well with Spurs amid promising NBA preseason stint

Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs before their preseason game against the Guangzhou Loong-Lions at the Frost Bank Center on October 6, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

Ronald Cortes / Getty Images / AFP

NEW JERSEY, United States — Despite a crowded San Antonio Spurs backcourt, Filipino-American rookie Dylan Harper is carving out a role and showing why he was selected No. 2 overall in this year’s NBA Draft.

In three preseason games, the 19-year-old guard has averaged 8.7 points on 45.8% shooting, along with 4.7 assists in 19.7 minutes per game — solid numbers that reflect growing comfort and maturity after an up-and-down NBA Summer League debut.

Harper’s best outing came against the Indiana Pacers, when he delivered 11 points, eight assists and two steals in just 22 minutes, impressing both teammates and coaches with his poise and decision-making.

“There’s a reason that there are expectations and thoughts of him before he got to this gym,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s our job to continue to cultivate that and support that and challenge him. He’s obviously shown a knack for sound decision-making and making plays with the basketball in his hands.”

Harper said the performance “felt good” as he continues to adjust to the pace of the NBA and find his place in San Antonio’s guard rotation, which includes reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox.

“I’m just trying to find that edge where I’m fitting in,” Harper said. “That’s the biggest thing. But overall, at the end of the day, it’s just basketball.”

The rookie’s composure and chemistry with teammates stood out during the preseason, particularly in his pick-and-roll connection with backup center Luke Kornet. His feel for the game was also evident in his preseason debut, when he threw a smooth alley-oop pass to franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama — a play that quickly went viral among Spurs fans.

“It’s good to be on the court with him,” Wembanyama said of Harper. “He looks ready, very comfortable already throwing those kinds of passes. I’m very confident and happy to be able to spend some time on the court with him.”

The Spurs went undefeated in preseason, fueling optimism that the franchise could return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Harper’s playmaking and steady presence off the bench have added depth to an already talented young roster built around Wembanyama and Castle.

Harper currently holds the third-best odds (+1200) to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award at BetUS, the best US online sportsbook according to videogamer.com. The Dallas Mavericks’ top pick Cooper Flagg remains the favorite at -225, while Utah’s Ace Bailey and Washington’s Tre Johnson are tied at +1000.

While Harper may not have the same scoring volume as rookies on rebuilding teams, his ability to organize the offense and contribute on both ends has impressed San Antonio’s coaching staff. As the Spurs aim to blend their youthful core with rising expectations, the young guard’s development could prove vital in their pursuit of a long-awaited postseason return.

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Alder Almo is a former senior sportswriter for Philstar.com and NBA.com Philippines. He is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey, and writes for US-based publication Heavy.com.