It's February 2026 and somehow, we're already doing revisionist history for the 2025 NBA Draft. The rookie class has played barely half a season, and there are already questions about [whether Dylan Harper was](https://x.com/KevinOConnor/status/2017093877136498789?s=20) the right pick at No. 2 for the San Antonio Spurs.
He was, for one, and it's outrageous we're asking these questions already, for two. Yeah, _what if_ the Spurs drafted Kon Knueppel instead? Well, then they wouldn't have Harper, who has scored at least 15 points on 63% shooting over the past three games and is already an elite rim finisher and high-level playmaker at 19 years old. Let's pump the brakes on saying the Spurs should second-guess the pick.
Also, it's not like Knueppel would fill a glaring need for these Hornets, anyway. Devin Vassell has been fine in his role, and Keldon Johnson will get plenty of 6MOY votes in a few months. Knueppel's numbers in San Antonio would probably be pretty similar to Harper's. Plus, the Spurs are 33-16. Things are going alright!
Kon is awesome for the Hornets! Dylan Harper is awesome for the Spurs! Both teams made the correct pick. Maybe it's as simple as that.
Dylan Harper is under scrutiny despite playing extremely well
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The reason Harper is already being unfairly questioned is solely because of opportunity. He's averaging 21 minutes per game because the Spurs have both De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the backcourt, two more experienced guards than Harper.
If he were on a bad team, Harper would be playing 30-plus minutes per night and averaging nearly 20 points per game. But it's okay that he's not. In fact, for his longterm development, his situation with the Spurs is probably the best place for him to be.
Plus, I don't know if you've heard this, but it's okay to have depth at a position. I think when a team has multiple good players at one position, the assumption is that they have to get rid of one of them, or that it's redundant. But what's the alternative? Replace one of those good players with a bad player? How is that better for the team?
The top four picks in the NBA Draft have all delivered on the hype that surrounded them in the pre-draft process. Flagg, Harper, Edgecombe, and Knueppel have the makings of franchise cornerstones on their respective teams. Nitpicking before they finish their first season in the league is nuts.
And even if you want to nitpick, Dylan Harper is playing well enough right now that he's making it impossible. You wouldn't have much of a leg to stand on.