Basketball Hall of Famer Jamaal Wilkes believes Dylan Harper will become a key component of the San Antonio Spurs’ future after the rookie guard impressed during the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.
Speaking to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson in an exclusive interview for #WORDSWITHSCOOP, the four-time NBA champion praised Harper’s talent and predicted further improvement, while leaving open the question of how San Antonio should balance its backcourt rotation.
“Oh, I think he’s superb. Yeah, and I think he’s only going to get better, and he’s going to be a real key component whether he’s a starter or coming off the bench,” Wilkes said. “He’s going to be real key to their success going forward.”
When Robinson pointed out the challenge of finding a starting role for Harper alongside De’Aaron Fox, Wilkes responded with a laugh: “Well, that’s their problem!”
Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, strengthened his reputation during a postseason run that saw the Spurs reach the NBA Finals before losing to the Knicks in five games. He appeared in all 23 playoff contests, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 26.7 minutes per game while shooting 51.5% from the field.
His postseason production followed a promising regular season in which Harper averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists across 69 appearances. He shot 50.5% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range in 22.6 minutes per game.
Harper’s growing standing within San Antonio was also highlighted by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who reported that the Spurs internally view the 20-year-old as their second-best player behind Victor Wembanyama.
“I’ll just say it. The Spurs internally believe Dylan Harper is their second best player,” Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective. He emphasized that the assessment was not intended as a criticism of Fox or second-year guard Stephon Castle, adding: “Harper is a stud.”
Windhorst also said conversations with other NBA front offices reflected a similar view of Harper’s potential, noting that the guard improved as his rookie season progressed.
The Spurs have several established options in their backcourt. Fox averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 assists during the regular season, while Castle recorded 16.7 points and 7.4 assists. Castle also averaged 18.2 points and 6.1 assists across 23 playoff games, compared with Harper’s 14.1 points and 2.7 assists.
However, Harper’s 51.5% field-goal percentage in the playoffs exceeded Castle’s 45.9%, offering another indication of his efficiency during San Antonio’s postseason run.
Wilkes’ endorsement carries the perspective of a player who won an NCAA championship at UCLA under John Wooden, captured an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors as a rookie and collected multiple championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during the Showtime era. His own career evolved from learning alongside veteran leaders to helping younger teammates, a transition he discussed in the interview.
