NBA legend reacts to Spurs' selection of Dylan Harper

Harper only spent one season at Rutgers, but did more than enough to catch the attention of the Spurs organization. He averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, four assists and shot 48.4 percent from the field.

He topped 30 points three times, including a 37-point effort against a No. 9 Alabama team in November. His versatility was on display when he logged a triple-double against Columbia on Dec. 30.

His size and play-making ability are what caught San Antonio's attention and, unlike most players that typically get drafted that early, Harper will be on a team that should at least contend for a playoff spot if everyone stays healthy.

Victory Wembanyama, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick, is two years into his NBA career and averaged 24.3 points and 11 rebounds during the 2024-25 season. De'Aaron Fox, who was traded to San Antonio in February, averaged 23.5 points, while Stephon Castle, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, enters his second season after averaging 14.7 points and starting 47 games in his rookie campaign.

That is just a fraction of the roster, but it shows the young talent that is already on this team. As someone familiar with sharing the court alongside other talented players like the No. 5 pick of the Utah Jazz, Ace Bailey, who he was teammates with at Rutgers, this looks like a win-win for Harper as the Spurs look to improve on their 34-48 record and make some noise in the Western Conference with their young core.

The pieces are certainly in place for the Spurs to contend. They have the size inside and the play-making outside to be a factor throughout the season. If Harper's collegiate success translates over to the NBA, San Antonio could be worth keeping an eye on in 2025-26 as it looks to establish a roster that can compete for years to come.