Since drafting Victor Wembanyama in 2023, the San Antonio Spurs’ main priority has been surrounding him with dynamic guards. Having strong backcourt play would make Wembanyama’s life a lot easier, and the Spurs have done a magnificent job of that so far.
They drafted Stephon Castle in 2024, giving them a versatile backcourt piece that can playmake, slash, and defend at a high level. They traded for De’Aaron Fox prior to last season’s trade deadline to give them a veteran three-level scorer and a reliable clutch option.
Despite having those two in tow, San Antonio has not stopped there. Fox and Castle have been their best options thus far, but as the Spurs move into the future, one guard stands out with superstar potential.
Dylan Harper is the future for the Spurs not De’Aaron Fox
San Antonio got the second pick in the draft last summer, and while they didn’t land Cooper Flagg, Harper was the next best thing. He was a standout at Rutgers and is the perfect fit for the modern game. He is a bigger guard with a tight handle, a pick-and-roll maestro, and can slash to the rim at will.
So far, Harper has adjusted well to the NBA game. He is averaging about 13 points per game, three rebounds, and four assists. He looks comfortable in an on-ball role off the bench and has shown a tremendous amount of poise. He doesn’t turn the ball over (only 1.7 per game), and getting to the basket has been a strength of his.
The only knock on Harper has been consistency. He has sometimes struggled with efficiency, specifically from three-point range (only 28 percent). He has a true-shooting percentage of 52.7 percent, but it takes time for young players to figure out how to be efficient.
In his last five games, his three-point shot has come around (43 percent), so that could be a sign of more improved shooting to come.
Harper could be the best guard out of San Antonio’s trio
I have said before that Harper has a lot of Cade Cunningham-like tendencies to his game, and we see how Cunningham is doing as a lead guard now in Detroit. Once Harper develops, he has the potential to form a tantalizing duo with Wembanyama.
Fox is in the prime of his career and is fresh off a contract extension. This will allow the Spurs to bring Harper along slowly. If Fox were to decline or when his contract is up, Harper will be waiting in the wings to become San Antonio’s lead ball-handler.
