Dylan Harper made his first career start as the San Antonio Spurs blew out the Indiana Pacers, and while he didn't downplay the accomplishment, he didn't disparage his team for making him wait this long.
The San Antonio Spurs have established themselves as one of the best teams in the NBA, if not the very best, but they have kept improving all season long, especially at an individual level.
In the Spurs' most recent 134-119 win over the Indiana Pacers, Stephon Castle was once again a late scratch as he deals with a hip injury. With Devin Vassell also out, the Spurs' starting five was a bit shorthanded. In order to add more ball-handling, Mitch Johnson gave Dylan Harper his first career start.
Despite being picked second overall, Harper has played a smaller bench role all season, although he is one of the best second-unit point guards in the entire NBA. In his first start against Indiana, he finished with a team-high 24 points to go with three assists and no turnovers.
Dylan Harper Reflects on Smaller Role
Most second-overall picks are touted as franchise players. Harper, meanwhile, took 58 games to make his first start. After the game, he didn't downplay the accomplishment.
"Having my first start, it's kind of something you dream of as a kid," he said. "I'm just blessed to be in this position."
While most number two picks are franchise players, they tend to end up on bad teams. After all, that's just how the NBA Draft lottery works. Harper made it clear that he would rather play a smaller role on a great team, and made sure to clarify that the Spurs have been forthcoming about the fact that his time will come, and he is a part of the bigger plan moving forward.
"We're number two in the West. To me, we're the best team in the NBA," he declared. "So just for me to get drafted to an organization that's so family-oriented, I think any rookie, regardless of what role you're in, you should want to come here. I think that just from top to bottom, it's very professional. And everyone is just so giving and so just hands-on with everything."
The Spurs have a rich history of asking great players to make sacrifices, and more often than not, they get the buy-in. Harper doesn't seem to be an exception.
Plus, he's surrounded by players who have been there before.
" It was definitely easy for me knowing the vets I have," he finished. "They made it easier. I mean, they sat me down. They're like, we understand the position you're in. So we're just trying to make it as easy as we can for you."