Is Dylan Harper destined for the bench this year? Probably. That's the best thing for a team with so much depth. The Spurs didn't anticipate landing the number two overall pick, but sometimes cool stuff falls into your lap. When it does, you embrace it like when Charlie ended up inheriting Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
Earning the right to draft Harper was unexpected, but San Antonio did the right thing by selecting him instead of trading the pick away. It's not hard to figure out what to do with three guards. Bring someone off the bench, and the former Rutgers star guard is the right choice. The best part about that is that he's also okay with it.
Dylan Harper on possibly coming off the bench for the Spurs:
“James Harden was with the Thunder and came off the bench for 3-4 years waiting his turn… so everyone gotta wait for theirs.”
Harper was the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
(via @7PMinBrooklyn) pic.twitter.com/ETzJaXyaDh
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 21, 2025
Yes and no to a James Harden comparison
James Harden is a fairly strong example to use in this scenario, with a few changes to how the former MVP's career developed over time. He spent three years in OKC and brought something special to the Thunder. Alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, they made it to the NBA Finals as one of the youngest teams in the history of the sport.
Currently on his fifth team, Harden requested to be traded to a franchise where he could start, as he prioritized glamour over winning. As a third overall pick in the 2009 draft, you understand his desire to show that he's worthy of more, but it wasn't the right decision if he was truly worried about team success.
You play to win the game. The Larry O'Brien Trophy is the ultimate achievement, and he hasn't sniffed it since that 2012 year when the Miami Heat defeated the young Thundercats in five games. What's true about Harden's time on the bench in Oklahoma City is that he was a force, especially in the playoffs.
They looked like they'd become a staple in the finals with one true threat to their reign, and that was the San Antonio Spurs. But they had just beaten our beloved Silver and Black in four straight games after being down 0-2, so the prospect of that team growing together was a scary one. Thankfully, Harden's vanity got the better of him, and he broke up the team.
That's exactly what we don't want for Harper. He seems willing to come off the bench right now, and that's the right mindset. But he also indicated that he expects that to be temporary when he mentioned waiting for his turn.
If the dynamic ball handler wants time with the starters after a few years, it could be an issue with De'Aaron Fox still on the roster. But the CBA may take care of that for us when it comes time to start paying some of the young guys more money. The front office could be forced to move guys anyway.
Thankfully, we don't have to worry about that right now, and Harper is ready to earn his stripes. He's already spent time with Manu Ginobili, the supreme selfless competitor. If there's anyone who can calm any potential anxiety about starting, it's the Argentinian legend.