August 22, 2025 | 10:13am
NEW JERSEY, United States — After being drafted second general, Filipino-American guard Dylan Harper is aware of there’s a robust probability he’ll start his NBA profession coming off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs — and he’s nice with it.
Harper pointed to the instance of future Corridor of Famer James Harden, who started because the sixth man for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder earlier than turning into a famous person.
“You’re not going to get the keys all day,” Harper stated on Carmelo Anthony’s “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast this summer time. “James Harden was with the Thunder and got here off the bench sixth man for 3 to 4 years, ready for his flip. Everybody’s gotta wait for his or her flip. That’s form of how I checked out it.”
San Antonio is stacked within the backcourt with All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox, who signed a four-year, $229-million extension this offseason, and reigning Rookie of the Yr Stephon Fort.
Nonetheless, Harper impressed in restricted motion through the NBA Summer time League in Las Vegas, averaging 16.0 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 22.1 minutes throughout two video games. The Spurs shut him down early after getting a have a look at his potential. Shortly after, Harper signed a four-year, $56-million rookie contract — price roughly P3.3 billion.
The Rutgers star joins a Spurs staff looking for its first NBA championship since 2014. At 19, Harper stated assembly Tim Duncan and longtime coach Gregg Popovich, now staff president, gave him a glimpse into the franchise’s famed tradition.
“You see a Corridor of Fame coach and a Corridor of Fame participant across the gym day by day. I can decide their mind and ask questions,” he stated.
The Spurs additionally employed NBA expertise coach Tim Martin as an assistant coach, in keeping with HoopsHype. Martin has beforehand labored with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and All-Star guards Tyrese Maxey of Philadelphia and Trae Younger of Atlanta, signaling San Antonio’s dedication to growing its younger core of Wembanyama, Harper and Fort.
Harper is the son of former NBA guard Ron Harper and Maria Pizarro, who migrated to america from Bataan when she was seven years outdated. His Filipino heritage has made him a rising supply of pleasure amongst basketball followers within the Philippines and in Texas, the place he begins his skilled profession.