The San Antonio Spurs appear locked in on selecting Rutgers guard Dylan Harper with the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and have no plans to trade down.
According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the franchise has signaled to teams around the league that it is “very excited about the opportunity to draft Dylan Harper.”
Givony, reporting live from the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, added that the Spurs are not engaged in any trade talks for the pick.
Harper, who averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists during his freshman season, is viewed as the top guard prospect in the draft.
“He looked also really, really good. Tested well, shot it well. His body is in a great place, he’s lost 15 pounds in the last year,” Givony said during ESPN’s broadcast.
San Antonio already has a crowded backcourt featuring De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, but Givony reported the organization is confident it can make the trio work.
“They think that they can play Harper together with Steph Castle and De’Aaron Fox in the same backcourt,” he said.
Harper has drawn comparisons to Dwyane Wade in terms of physical profile, with Givony pointing out that his combine measurements are “comparable to those of Dwyane Wade coming out of college.”
The Spurs, who finished 13th in the Western Conference with a 28–54 record, landed the second pick in the draft lottery behind Dallas.
San Antonio has now missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons but showed flashes of improvement after acquiring Fox midseason.
With longtime coach Gregg Popovich retiring after suffering a minor stroke in November, the franchise is undergoing a significant transition under new head coach Mitch Johnson.
Harper shot 48.4 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three during his lone season at Rutgers.
The Spurs also hold the No. 14 and No. 38 picks in the upcoming draft, giving them additional flexibility on draft night.
The 2025 NBA Draft will begin on June 25 with the first round, followed by the second round on June 26.
