When the San Antonio Spurs slipped in the 2024-25 NBA season, winding up with the second overall pick, no one was questioning who they would pick. Behind Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper was easily the second-best prospect in the draft class. However, the Spurs already boasted De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
There wasn’t room for Harper in the starting lineup, so the Spurs made the unconventional decision to bench their prized youngster.
To start his career, Harper was used sparingly. Through his first ten games, he only averaged 21.4 minutes per game. He would end his season with only four starts and was in the Sixth Man of the Year Race.
Most second-overall picks get big roles on a small team. The last number two selection to make the Finals in his rookie season was Darko Miličić, with the 2004 Pistons. It’s safe to say that Harper is on pace to have a better career than Darko, but he didn’t get off to the start he planned on having.
Apparently, that early adversity fueled him for the rest of the season.
Dylan Harper Learned Key Lessons Last Season
Basically, since the Tim Duncan era, the Spurs have a long track record of asking elite players to have a lesser role in the name of team success.
Victor Wembanyama showcased that by taking a pay cut this summer.
In his rookie season, Harper got the memo, readily accepting a smaller role as long as it meant the team would win.
“What Dylan really learned in San Antonio was trusting the process,” Maria Harper, Dylan’s mom, told Brandon Robinson. “It’s easy to trust the process when everything goes smoothly, but his situation as a top pick wasn’t traditional. He was used to being the singular focal point at Don Bosco and Rutgers, so being challenged to play alongside top-tier talent and earn every single minute in that system was great for him. Nothing was given; everything was earned. Then, to cap it off in the postseason, learning how to stay disciplined, returning home to play where he grew up, and having the full trust of his teammates on the biggest stage, that was priceless.”
Of course, as Harper improves and eventually usurps Fox as the second-best player on the roster, he should demand a bigger role. For now, though, Fox has the leg up. Fans might not want to admit it, but it seems Harper understands that and is willing to be patient.
With that backcourt trio, the Spurs are expected to make the NBA Finals for the second season in a row.
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