Since drafting Victor Wembanyama in 2023, the San Antonio Spurs’ foremost precedence has been surrounding him with dynamic guards. Having sturdy backcourt play would make Wembanyama’s life rather a lot simpler, and the Spurs have carried out an impressive job of that to date.
They drafted Stephon Fortress in 2024, giving them a flexible backcourt piece that may playmake, slash, and defend at a excessive degree. They traded for De’Aaron Fox previous to final season’s commerce deadline to provide them a veteran three-level scorer and a dependable clutch possibility.
Regardless of having these two in tow, San Antonio has not stopped there. Fox and Fortress have been their greatest choices to date, however because the Spurs transfer into the long run, one guard stands out with celebrity potential.
Dylan Harper is the long run for the Spurs not De’Aaron Fox
San Antonio bought the second choose within the draft final summer time, and whereas they didn’t land Cooper Flagg, Harper was the following neatest thing. He was a standout at Rutgers and is the right match for the trendy recreation. He’s a much bigger guard with a good deal with, a pick-and-roll maestro, and may slash to the rim at will.
To date, Harper has adjusted properly to the NBA recreation. He’s averaging about 13 factors per recreation, three rebounds, and 4 assists. He appears comfy in an on-ball position off the bench and has proven an amazing quantity of poise. He doesn’t flip the ball over (just one.7 per recreation), and attending to the basket has been a power of his.
The one knock on Harper has been consistency. He has typically struggled with effectivity, particularly from three-point vary (solely 28 %). He has a true-shooting proportion of 52.7 %, but it surely takes time for younger gamers to determine methods to be environment friendly.
In his final 5 video games, his three-point shot has come round (43 %), in order that may very well be an indication of extra improved capturing to return.
Harper may very well be the perfect guard out of San Antonio’s trio
I’ve stated earlier than that Harper has a number of Cade Cunningham-like tendencies to his recreation, and we see how Cunningham is doing as a lead guard now in Detroit. As soon as Harper develops, he has the potential to kind a tantalizing duo with Wembanyama.
Fox is within the prime of his profession and is contemporary off a contract extension. This can permit the Spurs to carry Harper alongside slowly. If Fox have been to say no or when his contract is up, Harper can be ready within the wings to change into San Antonio’s lead ball-handler.
