As the San Antonio Spurs prepare for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, rookie guard Dylan Harper is embracing a moment he once only imagined.
Harper, who grew up attending Knicks games and now finds himself preparing to face New York on basketball’s biggest stage, called the experience “a dream come true” during Tuesday’s media availability.
“Never in a thousand years would you have told me that my first year in the NBA, I’d be playing against the Knicks, going to play at Madison Square Garden in my rookie year in the finals,” Harper said. “I would never — I’d think you’re crazy.”
The 20-year-old guard added that the opportunity carries extra meaning because of where the series could go.
“Just the reality and possibility that we have as a team and I think our biggest goal this year, I think we have a chance to do it in a special place,” Harper said.
The Finals matchup places Harper against a Knicks group led by Jalen Brunson, who has averaged 26.9 points and 6.6 assists during New York’s playoff run. Harper acknowledged the challenge of adjusting from defending Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference Finals to preparing for Brunson’s footwork-heavy style.
“Jalen Brunson kind of just has, when he gets in the paint, his footwork is elite and is among the best,” Harper said. “At the end of the day, I feel like we have great defenders that I feel like will want to take that challenge and go up and meet it.”
Harper has played an important role in San Antonio’s postseason run, averaging 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and shooting 52.5% from the field across 18 playoff games. He said one key to his growth has been daily work behind the scenes, especially as his perimeter shooting improved through the season.
“It was more just being in the gym,” Harper said. “More just shooting the ball every day really. If you want to be a good shooter or better than good, great, you kind of have to stay in the gym constantly.”
Harper credited veteran teammate De’Aaron Fox for helping him navigate his rookie season after Fox joined San Antonio and helped the Spurs reach the Finals.
“Fox was kind of a big name,” Harper said. “Just to be a part of his journey with him and to kind of have him as — he hates when I say this — but as my uncle in a sense and my big brother.”
Harper added that Fox’s experience has mattered in a locker room featuring several young contributors.
“He’s done a great job of just mentoring me,” Harper said. “I feel like what he brings to the table, every team would love to have.”
The rookie also reflected on lessons from his lone college season at Rutgers, a year often criticized because the program missed the NCAA tournament.
“Life ain’t always going to go your way,” Harper said. “You got to go through some hard times and I feel like that was necessary for me in my career to kind of go through things like that so I could be even more prepared for this level.”
Now, Harper enters the NBA Finals with advice from his father, five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, echoing in his head.
“Be you,” Harper said of the message. “You don’t have to switch who you are in this situation. Just do whatever you did to get here.”
