If given the opportunity to do it all over again, would San Antonio still pick the star point guard out of Rutgers?
Even in a re-draft exercise built on hindsight, not every team walks away wanting to change its story. For the San Antonio Spurs, that’s exactly the case.
Yes, Cooper Flagg still goes No. 1 overall—and deservedly so. But in Bleacher Report’s latest re-draft, the Spurs pivot to Kon Knueppel at No. 2 instead of Dylan Harper.
"Some will question the logic of valuing instant impact over long-term potential, still, but there are two counters," Zach Buckley writes. "First, Knueppel has a blindingly bright future in his own right. Second, San Antonio is an inner-circle title contender and therefore could absolutely covet the ability to fill a high-minute role right away over someone who's made two more starts than you and me this season."
Knueppel has been one of the biggest risers from the 2025 class. What once looked like a "safe" pick has quickly turned into something far more dynamic. His shooting alone would justify a top selection—he’s already breaking rookie three-point records and spacing the floor at an elite level—but his game doesn’t stop there.
He processes the game quickly, makes smart decisions, and fits seamlessly into modern offensive systems. That combination of shooting, feel, and efficiency is exactly what today’s NBA demands. And in a re-draft setting, it’s easy to understand why evaluators would elevate that skill set even higher with a full season of proof.
But here’s where the Spurs’ perspective matters.
San Antonio didn’t just need talent—they needed fit, identity, and long-term cohesion. Even BR acknowledged how strong the class has been overall, with few obvious regrets across the board. That context is key.
The Spurs went with the star guard out of Rutgers, who was coming off of averaging 19 points per game on 48 percent shooting from the field. So to say that they made a mistake would not be correct at all.
It may be true that Harper has only started in three games in his rookie season, but that makes it even more impressive that he has averaged 12 points off the bench on 50 percent shooting.
Knueppel has had an instant impact with the Charlotte Hornets, but the Spurs are absolutely fine with the pick that they made at No. 2 in the 2025 NBA Draft.