Dylan Harper is expected to be an elite NBA player once the San Antonio Spurs give him free run of the offense, but until then, he's stuck on the bench. One legendary player went through a similar start to his career, and he didn't break out until he joined a new team.
Being compared to an MVP is almost always a good thing, and the San Antonio Spurs getting praise for Dylan Harper is no exception...for the most part.
Drafted second overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, Harper is expected to eventually be the prime running mate in San Antonio for Victor Wembanyama. For now, he's been relegated to the bench, stuck behind De'Aaron Fox in the depth chart.
Despite swirling trade rumors, the Spurs have very little interest in trading away Fox, meaning Harper will have to wait his turn. Another superstar, James Harden, became an MVP and the best scorer of a generation only after he left the team that drafted him. Spurs fans are hoping Harper won't need a relocation to break out.
Similarities Between Harper and Harden Never End
In his rookie season, Harper came off the bench for the Spurs and averaged 11.8 points, getting downhill with ease and finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.
Back in 2010, Harden didn't place in ROTY voting, but he was a solid bench player for the Thunder, helping them jumpstart a title window behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The similarities between the two never end, as pointed out by ClutchPoints.
Both are elite scorers. Both are solid passers who would rather create a bucket for themselves. Both were lottery picks. Both joined a team with an excellent young player as a centerpiece. And, importantly, both have someone standing in their way of a starting nod.
The Thunder realized Harden's potential, but were unable to make room for him, both on the books and on the floor. The Spurs are hoping to avoid the same mistake, and, luckily, Fox's trade rumors and Victor Wembanyama's pay cut should make extending Harper easy.
On the court, Harper looks the part of the next James Harden in all the best ways. Unlike a young "Beard," Harper shouldn't need a change of scenery to reach his potential.
The Spurs' core moving forward is Wemby, Harper, and Stephon Castle. Everyone else, to a degree, is expendable. Lessons can be learned from the Thunder's past.
