DYLAN Harper

Harper appeared in 69 games for San Antonio last season. He averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 22.6 minutes. He added 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks and turned it over 1.4 times a game. He was efficient for a rookie guard. He shot 50.5 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from three and 75.6 percent at the line, with a true shooting mark of 57.4 percent. His usage rate was 21.1 percent, so the offense ran through him on a real share of trips without making him the focal point. The Spurs were plus-4.4 per game with him on the floor last season. That is the baseline he brings into his second year.

Harper's October started with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 19.0 minutes against Atlanta on Oct. 8. He was plus-6. Two nights later he scored 15 against Phoenix in 23.7 minutes, but the Spurs lost and he was minus-14. He sat out the Oct. 12 game against Utah. On Oct. 14 he had a quieter line against Phoenix: 9 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist. San Antonio won, and he was plus-16. His best night came against Sacramento on Oct. 16. He scored 19 points with 4 assists in only 20.6 minutes, and the Spurs were plus-20 with him on the floor in a win. Then came the 18-point game against the Thunder.

There is no injury story here. Harper went on the report as day-to-day on Oct. 12, listed for rest. He did not play against Utah that night, a Spurs loss. He was cleared on Oct. 14 and played 22.6 minutes against Phoenix the same day. He has played every game since. The Spurs held a healthy young guard out of one early October game and brought him straight back. He comes into the season with no listed injury.

The Spurs exercised their 2027/28 options on Castle, Harper and Bryant, as reported on Oct. 17. That keeps Harper's rookie deal on track and signals the front office's plans for its young backcourt. Lineup talk is also building. Michael C. Wright's Spurs notes on Oct. 18 covered a three-guard lineup along with Fox, K. Johnson and Harris. Harper's name has come up repeatedly this fall. Jared Weiss's Southwest notes on Oct. 10 included him, and Cam Wolf's Spurs notes on Sept. 28 mentioned Harper with Wemby, Harris and Quaintance. A Sept. 21 roundup grouped him with Fox and Castle. Treat the lineup items as reporting, not settled rotation decisions.

Harper's last meaningful stretch before the summer came in four June games against the Knicks. He played big minutes in all of them, 31.1 to 32.3 a night. He scored 15 points with 6 rebounds on June 5, then had 13 points and 9 rebounds in the only win of the four, on June 8. He followed with 21 points on June 10 and a series-high 25 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists on June 13. San Antonio lost three of the four. Those games showed what Harper can do with a larger role. The Oct. 20 game against the Thunder was the first time this fall his minutes got back to that range.