The San Antonio Spurs have expected a lot from rookie Dylan Harper, and he's taken strides since his debut to showcase a more complete game on both ends of the floor.
It's not very often that a second-overall pick gets drafted to a win-now team, but that's exactly the situation Dylan Harper found himself in with the San Antonio Spurs.
He got off to a solid start, sometimes flashing the boneheadedness expected from a rookie point guard, although he was able to get to the rim with ease and shot surprisingly well from deep.
After six games, he was sidelined with a calf injury and is slowly making his way back. He has appeared in four games since then, improving in each one. In the Spurs' win over the Memphis Grizzlies, he posted 15 points off the bench.
Dylan Harper Bounced Back After Tough Criticism
15 points is not the most he's scored since returning from injury. In the Spurs' road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, he recorded 17 points but didn't do anything else other than score. For a point guard assumed to eventually take over for De'Aaron Fox, the Spurs expect more, and they let him hear it.
"I think he needs more than zero rebounds and zero assists," said Mitch Johnson of Harper after the loss in Minnesota. "I think the biggest thing, really disappointing, was the activity and presence defensively. And then offensively just allowing the outcome to drive our energy and confidence."
Harper didn't take Johnson's comments personally, but he did take them to heart. Against the Grizzlies, he added six assists and hit a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to tie the game up.
After the game, he credited Johnosn with giving him the motivation and tough love he needs.
"I think the coaching staff does a great job instilling that confidence in the young players, to the vets," Harper summed up. "I think they trust me. They see all the work I put in, and they see, obviously, practice day to day, what I can do on the floor and what I bring to the table."
Of course, some mistakes are to be expected, and the Spurs will have to live with those. Rookie point guards are prone to turnovers and defensive lapses, and Harper is no exception. Once Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama return, he will have some insurance on the floor, allowing him to play a riksier style.
He's still looking for ways to imporve.
"How do I find ways to get better every day? How do I just go out there with the mindset of, I got to do whatever I got to do to win?" he often asks himself. "I think that mindset carries over from everything. Once I make a mistake or something like that, it's all right, on to the next play, because we've got to go win."
As long as Harper is committed to winning, something he didn't do much of in college, he will always have a big role on the Spurs. His all-around play against Memphis is exactly what Johnson needs to see in order to keep giving him a longer leash.