Dylan Harper reveals the reasons behind his big performance against the Nets

Three games into his NBA career, Dylan Harper put together an effort that showed why almost everyone had him as the second overall pick in 2025. San Antonio Spurs. Ex The Rutgers star scored 20 points, dished out eight assists and grabbed six rebounds in helping lead the Silver and Black to a 118-107 victory against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Spurs’ quest for a 3-0 start didn’t get off to a good start, though. The Nets pressured San Antonio into several turnovers en route to a 9-2 lead with three minutes left. Then Harper came off the bench.

ClutchPoints asked the 6-foot-5 guard if he made an effort to calm things down when he entered the game.

“I was out there playing my game. I think the big thing for me and my development was how to handle the pressure from college and now,” Harper replied. “And I think I did a good job just reading the game.”

The 19-year-old point guard then ended his ClutchPoints approach against an aggressive Brooklyn defense.

“If two (defenders) cover me, I’m going to drop back. And because Vic (Victor Wembanyama), you throw it right to him, he’s going to get it no matter what. Or if it’s one-on-one, just take care of the ball and set up our whole team. So that was my mindset.”

Dylan Harper’s ‘unbelievable’ ability

While Harper’s effort against the Nets was the best of his young NBA career, he has also been good in his first two games. He scored 13 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans two nights after going over the top overall draft pick Cooper Flagg 15 to 10 at the opening.

ClutchPoints asked Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson about Harper’s ability to attack the basket and create plays while still playing at a controlled pace, especially as a teenager.

“That’s certainly one of his strengths, and sometimes it’s hard to learn,” the first-time Spurs coach continued to ClutchPoints. “Something about that uncanny ability to start, stop, change gears, while making and processing, making decisions and processing at a high level.”

“I did a good job just reading the game…”
-Dylan Harper on setting up #Spurs down today

“It’s hard to learn…”
-Mitch Johnson on Harper’s controlled offense@martinezlavsa Report, including the pass in the arena, after the start SA 3-0 ⬇#GoSpursGo #PorVida pic.tvitter.com/dRSN0rNLtI

— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) October 27, 2025

As he did early in the contest, Harper helped the Spurs turn the tide in the fourth quarter. The home crowd, which had just seen their team blow a 26-point lead, saw the Big 10 freshman in 2025 provide the spark.

“I’m trying to get my team up. I think when they took the lead, we weren’t angry or angry or anything, but I could see the energy was going down a little bit,” Harper said. “I know that’s something me and Keldon (Johnson) do big, coming into the game to try to get some energy.”

Harper also touted the common line in team sports by describing his approach as a rookie.

“Impact in any way you can,” he added. “Try to turn the game around, whether it’s picking somebody up 94 feet, a steal, whether it’s a pass, whether it’s scoring, whatever. Just give my team the kind of push and energy that we need.”

Spoken like a player. From a blooming player into anything but.