top 5 of the 2024 SCNext 100<\/a>. The Scarlet Knights, however, finished the season 15-17 and didn\u2019t make the NCAA tournament.<\/p>\nThose struggles made Harper feel he had to prove himself as a winner once he joined the Spurs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to watch the NCAA tournament now because it\u2019s something I didn\u2019t get to do,\u201d Harper said. \u201cIt was kind of blessing in disguise for me. It kind of opened my eyes. It was good for me. I never want to lose. But the losing aspect and not exceeding expectations was a good thing for me because it kind of kept me grounded and kept me level-headed. So, going into my NBA career was more of like, \u2018All right, I have to prove that I\u2019m a winner now.\u2019 And we got [more than 50] wins, so I have done a pretty good job of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut losing last [season] taught me a lot of lessons. You got to show up every day regardless of what happened yesterday. You got to show up to practice. It made me appreciate the little things a little more. It\u2019s a dream come true. I always tell people, \u2018It\u2019s a flip. Usually, you win in college and you get to the pros and the first few years the team is not winning.\u2019 But for me, I lost in college. I\u2019m winning now. I can\u2019t ask to be in any [better] position.\u201d<\/p>\nHarper on his reserve role on one of the NBA\u2019s best teams: \u201cI might come off the bench, but in a month or so, I will be playing in the playoffs. Not many rookies can say that they can do that at a high level and play meaningful minutes.\u201d<\/p>\nIssac Baldizon\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
It didn\u2019t take long for the Spurs to know they had a talented rookie in Harper.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-5 Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, native averaged 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 25.8 minutes in the first five games of the season. He was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for February, when he averaged 12.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds and shot 55.4% from the field, helping the Spurs to an 11-0 month.<\/p>\n
Harper has continued to grow, putting up 13.1 points on 57.3% shooting from the field, dishing 4.2 assists and hauling in 3.5 rebounds per game in 19 contests since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n
Wembanyama said he had faith in Harper \u201cvery quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s rare to be a really good shooter as a rookie, first of all,\u201d Wembanyama said. \u201cAnd I know it\u2019s rare to have this [talent] as an NBA player at all. And very, very rapidly I had faith in him. It\u2019s obvious, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Joining a great team means Harper has also avoided the pressure and attention that usually comes with being selected high in the draft. Moreover, he had the luxury of a veteran in Fox taking him under his wing. Harper said he\u2019s learned a lot from watching the habits of his more experienced teammates and even uses the same personal chef as Spurs guard Devin Vassell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have great vets around me who help, like Fox,\u201d Harper said. \u201cWe can sit down and talk about anything. On the basketball side, [Fox said], \u2018I\u2019m not trying to stunt your growth. I understand what it\u2019s like to be young coming into this league. I\u2019m going to help you as much as I can.\u2019 Having people in my corner like that is special to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harper\u2019s father, Ron Harper Sr., averaged a career-high 22.9 points per game as a rookie with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 1986-87 season, but he finished second in the NBA Rookie of the Year balloting to Indiana Pacers forward Chuck Person. It all worked out for Harper Sr., who won five NBA championships in his 15-year career.<\/p>\n
An appreciative Dylan Harper hopes to follow in his father\u2019s championship footsteps and deliver the Spurs a sixth NBA title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m grateful that the Spurs picked me,\u201d Dylan Harper said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m grateful that it would be in a position like this.\u201d<\/p>\n