As a rookie last season, Dylan Harper averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 51.8% from the field and 36% from three. He was very consistent throughout the season and really efficient for a rookie. He also showed fearlessness in big moments, unafraid to take big shots when the Spurs needed one.
In the NBA Finals, Harper averaged 18 points, 6.4 rebounds, and three assists on 49.4% from the field and 28% from three. He was one of the Spurs’ brightest spots in the biggest moments. His play in the Finals had people talking about how the Spurs should start Harper over De’Aaron Fox and also how the Spurs should trade Fox.
A Bigger Role for the Spurs’ Dylan Harper Ahead
Why Dylan Harper’s Role Could Expand
After an impressive rookie season, with an even more impressive Finals performance, the Spurs feel inclined to give Harper more minutes. When he is in the game, it gives the Spurs a player who is able to create for himself and take on defenders in one-on-one situations. He’s someone that his able to control the game offensively while also being a really good defender. The bigger the moment got last season, the better Harper played.
Against the defending champs last season in the Western Conference Finals, he averaged 12 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting an efficient 46% and 35% from three. Seeing the talent that Harper possesses, it’s hard to see him not get his minutes improved. Some could say that if he wasn’t already on a really good team, then he would have been fighting for Rookie of the Year honors.
Harper doesn’t have to start, but he definitely deserves starter minutes after his performance in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. He may even deserve to be in the closing lineups after the clutch shooting he displayed last year. Harper shot an efficient 48.4% in clutch situations compared to the 45.9% league benchmark. He had a small sample size of 31 shots in the clutch but made his opportunities count.
How Harper Fits With De’Aaron Fox And Stephon Castle
The Spurs have a three-headed monster at the guard position now with Stephon Castle, Fox, and Harper. They showed last season that they work well together and fit each other’s play style. Fox is extremely fast, can shoot the midrange, and attack the paint with his speed while also getting his teammates open looks. He averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 assists while shooting a very efficient 58% from inside the three-point line.
Castle is a defensive-minded guard whose strong crazy athletic and owns the paint area with his strength and relentless ability to put the ball on the basket through tough layups and looking for contact. He averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists while shooting 53.1% from inside the arc.
Any combination of those guards can be deadly; they all put pressure on the defense, causing teams to worry about their driving ability. All three guards are good defenders, allowing them to constantly switch on screens without having to completely fight over the screen. They all have a high IQ, which makes it easy for them to not get in each other’s way and be in the right spot.
These three guards are a perfect fit for each other because they play similar games while also being different. Castle uses his physicality and strength to bully defenders, Fox uses his speed and quickness to blow by defenders, and Harper uses his crafty style to make tough shots. The Spurs won’t be losing much throughout the game with every combination of these guards; they will all put pressure on opposing teams and cause havoc on both sides of the ball.
What Harper’s Playoff Performance Revealed
Harper revealed why he was the number two pick of the 2025 NBA draft in the playoffs. In every series, he had big performances and shot efficiently. He showed that no moment is too big for him, and he never wavered when these moments got bigger. Instead of looking like a rookie, he looked like a veteran player who has been there before.
At times in the NBA Finals, he looked like the most confident player out there and, in the fourth quarter, hit some big shots. He deserves to be in the closing lineups in this upcoming season and have the ball in his hands a little more. Harper showed that his confidence dwindles and he’s made for the big stage. Even though last season didn’t end the way that the Spurs wanted, Harper was a bright spot and gave the Spurs something to build off this season.
Why the Spurs Need More from Harper in 2026-27
If the Spurs want to take the next step towards winning a championship, Harper is going to have to give the Spurs more. If they give him more responsibility and he delivers, they will be a much better team. Building off last year, Harper needs to raise his scoring and assist averages while remaining efficient. He is a player that can close out games by hitting big shots and has a willingness to take those shots in the biggest moments.
His minutes will likely be raised a lot for this next season, and he’ll get his opportunities and chances to play in clutch moments. His confidence and his attitude are important to the Spurs, and they can play him with any lineup, and he’ll be successful. His production needs to go up from last season; his points need to jump up to around 15 points per game and his assists to around six assists per game. If he can make these statistical jumps, then this Spurs team will be even better than they were last season.
Dylan Harper Will be Ready
The world saw how good Harper is in the last playoffs, and everyone knows what he can do. He had the world defending him, saying that he should start and the Spurs should trade Fox. Harper is part of a guard trio that is one of the best guard trios in the entire NBA.
This coming season is going to be a very interesting and exciting one for Harper. A lot of people want to see what he looks like in year two and how much more responsibility he will have. He doesn’t need to make a huge jump, but he needs to make a relevant one. Harper is a big key to what the Spurs ultimately want to do this season, and that is to win a championship.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
