Dylan Harper missed ten games with a calf injury, and the San Antonio Spurs are slowly working him back into a bigger role.
The San Antonio Spurs, for decades, have been known for two things: drafting well and being conservative with injuries and rehab.
Second overall pick Dylan Harper has already experienced both. The consensus second-best player behind Cooper Flagg, he has missed ten games already this season with a calf injury. Some teams would have rushed back the young star, especially after Stephon Castle also went down with an injury.
With their playmaking taking a significant hit between Castle and Harper missing time, the Spurs remained cautious, giving De'Aaron Fox the most responsibility of his short tenure in San Antonio.
It's paid dividends, as the Spurs are 13-6 on the season, successfully weathering the early injury bug.
Harper has played in the last three games, recording under 20 minutes in all of them. However, he has been ramping up, scoring seven, 11, and 17 points in those contests. With only five total assists in that span, the point guard is still playing a limited role, although he doesn't mind stepping into the backup spot behind Fox, provided he still gets looks.
Thanks to the "Spurs Way," shot attempts haven't been hard to come by as everyone gets in on the action.
"Getting back in the rhythm, knowing where I need to be on the floor, and just, honestly, my teammates do a great job of just putting me in the right spots to win," Harper said after his third game back. "I just go out there, play my game, and I just try not to overthink it, but these games definitely helped me get back to myself."
Harper has steadily improved as he gets back to form, and his full recovery should coincide nicely with both NBA Cup knockout play and Victor Wembanyama's return. The Spurs have found success this season without their best player, and as they slowly get healthier and healthier, their already solid play is expected to get a boost.
Harper was not drafted as a win-now player. He was expected to develop behind Fox and Castle, although injuries and his offensive craftiness have lofted him into a bigger role. Fans aren't complaining, as the rookie quietly exceeds the sky-high expectations set for him.
With the entire team bought into getting him the looks he needs to score easy points, the Spurs re-added a top pick to a playoff-bound roster. The passing chops haven't been on display during the recent stretch, but once that comes around, it's safe to say that Harper will be dangerous.