The ‘most popular’ player on the San Antonio Spurs is Victor Wembanyama. This article is not about Wemby. It’s about Dylan Harper.
Ask any Spurs fan who their favorite player (past or present) is, and you’ll get different answers. Maybe you appreciate pass-first point guards and enjoyed Johnny Moore. Or you like wings, in which case Danny Green, Sean Elliott, or Devin Vassell would take the cake. Maybe you’re a defensive purist, in which case Bruce Bowen or Stephon Castle wins out.
Of course, when it really comes down to it, there are only two acceptable answers: Tim Duncan (past) and Victor Wembanyama (present), although that goes without saying. When fans are asked “who’s your favorite Spur?” there is an implied “second” before “favorite.”
After outplaying De’Aaron Fox in the playoffs and cementing himself as one of the very best young players in the league, Harper is quickly emerging as everyone’s “favorite” Spur, behind Wemby.
And with his breakout and newfound adoration, he should be expecting a bigger role.
Dylan Harper Earns Tony Parker Praise
Thanks to his wily playstyle, athleticism, size, and the fact that he came off the bench, most fans would compare Harper to Manu Ginobili.
That’s not totally off-base, although unlike Manu, Harper is expected to be the lead guard and playmaker. Ginobili almost always shared the floor with a true point guard.
Maybe a more apt comparison would be Tony Parker. After all, it’s only a matter of time before Harper becomes a staple of the starting lineup.
“Harper’s outstanding form in the playoffs — 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds per game — begs the question: How much longer until the 20-year-old guard cracks the starting lineup?” asked ESPN’s Ben Golliver. “With Fox struggling at times in the postseason, Harper emerged as the most popular man in San Antonio. His purposeful drives to the rim and smooth finishes make him a nightmare cover for opposing defenses, and it’s easy to picture him as the Tony Parker to Victor Wembanyama’s Tim Duncan for the next decade.”
Parker assisted Duncan 1,847 times during their careers, the most of any duo in NBA history. If Harper and Wembanyama both remain healthy, that record could eventually be within grasp.
Parker was one of the league’s best point guards during his prime, but he never averaged eight assists per game. He was always surrounded by weapons, but his midrange, teardrop, and ability to get to the rim made him an elite scoring guard.
Harper has all the same tools, plus three inches and 30 pounds on Parker. Much like the Frenchman, Harper looks to score first, pass second. Much like Parker, he has an all-time great big man to pass to, so racking up assists shouldn’t be too hard.
Right now, fans will claim that Fox is standing in his way and that Harper should be running the offense next to Wemby. According to Golliver and pretty much any other source, there’s no rush to get rid of Fox, but he probably won’t be long for San Antonio.
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