The San Antonio Spurs internally view Dylan Harper as their second-best player behind Victor Wembanyama, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN’s The Hoop Collective. The assessment puts the 20-year-old ahead of established veterans De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell, as well as second-year guard Stephon Castle.
“I’ll just say it. The Spurs internally believe Dylan Harper is their second best player,” Windhorst said. “I’m not saying Mitch Johnson is going to come out and say that. He shouldn’t come out and say that.”
Windhorst stressed that the reported evaluation should not be interpreted as a criticism of Fox or Castle.
“That’s not a slight on De’Aaron Fox. That’s not a slight on Stephon Castle,” Windhorst said. “Harper is a stud.”
Harper was selected No. 2 overall by San Antonio in the 2025 NBA Draft and averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 69 regular-season games as a rookie. He shot 50.5% from the field, 34.3% from three-point range and 75.6% from the free-throw line while averaging 22.6 minutes.
His role expanded significantly during the Spurs’ playoff run. Harper appeared in all 23 postseason games, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 26.7 minutes while shooting 51.5% from the field and 59.1% on two-point attempts.
Harper’s playoff production placed him fourth on the Spurs in scoring behind Wembanyama, Castle and Fox. He also shot 82.7% from the free-throw line in the postseason and averaged only 1.5 turnovers per game.
Windhorst said Harper’s development throughout his rookie season was a major factor behind the league-wide perception of his potential.
“You talk to other front offices in the league, they say the same thing,” Windhorst said. “This guy is, I mean, look, he was a number two pick in the draft. Of course he’s a stud. Of course he’s a stud. And he only got better as the season went along.”
Wembanyama led San Antonio with 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game during the regular season while earning All-NBA first-team and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Fox averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 assists after playing all 72 regular-season games, while Castle posted 16.7 points and 7.4 assists in 68 games.
Castle remained ahead of Harper in postseason scoring, averaging 18.2 points and 6.1 assists in 23 playoff games. Harper, however, shot substantially better from the field, converting 51.5% of his attempts compared with Castle’s 45.9%.
The Spurs finished 62-20 in the regular season and reached the NBA Finals, where they lost to the New York Knicks in five games. Harper’s performance across the 23-game playoff run gives San Antonio another young perimeter player alongside Wembanyama and Castle as the franchise builds around its core.
