The San Antonio Spurs made it official on Wednesday night, selecting Rutgers’ standout Dylan Harper second overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, adding to a young core built around Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs may have missed the playoffs last season, and their rival, the Oklahoma City Thunder, look poised to be the next dynasty, but now that Wembanyama has a talented core around him, including All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox, their winning window is expected to be open.
Harper, of course, is the icing on the cake.
In college, Harper averaged 19.4 points, four assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 33.3 percent from deep and 48.4 percent from the field. He is expected to slot in off-ball next to Fox and Castle in the starting lineup, although he should get plenty of run as the floor general for the second unit, as well.
The Spurs, after rising up to the second overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery, immediately became the subject of trade rumors and speculation, although they decided to hold their line and build a long-term winner instead of doing anything rash.
Wembanyama has proven that he is an elite player, and with a full offseason alongside Harper, Fox, Castle, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and the rest, the Spurs are expected to announce their arrival to the rest of the Western Conference.
The West is as loaded as ever, but with an All-Star point guard, the reigning Rookie of the Year, the second-best player in the draft, and an Alien to build around, the Spurs are expected to miss the play-in tournament outright and make the playoffs, and Harper is expected to play a key role in that.
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