If you happen to observe NBA Draft conversations, you’ve seemingly heard some acquainted narratives about Dylan Harper and the San Antonio Spurs. Some argue the Spurs ought to have taken Kon Knueppel, as he suits into the crew’s present wants as a knock-down shooter who can play on or off the ball. Others argue that Harper is held again by his position on a crew that’s contending for a championship.
Within the Spurs’ 134-119 win over the Indiana Pacers, Harper’s position was modified from that of the primary guard off the bench to a starter alongside De’Aaron Fox. The consequence was tying his profession excessive with 24 factors, including 4 rebounds and three assists with no turnovers. We acquired a glimpse of a future when Harper performs a secondary position within the offense with Victor Wembanyama. That future is vibrant.
Anybody who has watched the Spurs this season understands that Harper is already elite at attending to and ending on the rim. What struck me about his efficiency in opposition to Indiana was the entire different stuff he did offensively. He hit floaters within the lane, turnaround mid-range jumpers, and knocked down a spot-up three. The sport was an indication of the large leaps he’s revamped the course of the season.
For the reason that All-Star break, Harper is averaging 12.7 factors and 4.2 assists whereas capturing 56.2% from the sphere and 43.9% from three. He’s advanced from an intriguing rookie to a reputable offensive weapon who’s up there with a few of the simplest bench scorers within the NBA.
After the sport, Harper talked about what it has been like to just accept a bench position this season:
There’s a load of maturity in that response. Harper has sacrificed the accolades and glory that different rookies, like Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, have obtained this season, for making a tangible impression on a successful crew. Saturday evening confirmed what Harper can do with an elevated position. Harper could be a go-to scorer sooner or later. For now, he’ll hold serving to the Spurs win as they method the playoffs.
