Dylan Harper reveals the key behind a career night

ByNBAUSA



Less than halfway through his NBA rookie season, Dylan Harper has already proven to be a valuable piece of this year’s San Antonio Spurs team i an invaluable part of the franchise’s future. A career high in a 119-94 win against the Washington Wizards will do nothing to quell any expectations.

“I just shoot, I just don’t think,” Harper said after 24 points against the Wies.

“If I’m going to shoot it, you better just shoot it and not think about it, because once you start thinking about it, then it starts going left, right, instead of just shooting it out of your hands,” the 2025 NBA draft second overall pick continued.

Harper was answering a question about his effective three-point shooting from a certain area of ​​the court after going 3/5 from behind the arc.

“Just being able to be on that wing, and knowing that whoever’s driving the ball can trust me and count on me to knock down that shot,” the Rutgers freshman said.

Dylan Harper details career highlight

The son of former NBA veteran Ron Harper already had 21 points in the game Defeat of the NBA Cup Finals by the New York Knicks. And the younger Harper is just a week and a half removed from his previous career high of 22 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

“I’m always ready to shoot,” Dylan continued. “I think you have to shoot first, be aggressive later, and then if they close hard enough, I’m just going to drive the ball and try to get my teammates in. But, the last two games, it’s just been a lot of preparation and when I go out, I always tell myself I’m going to shoot the ball. Like, no assumptions.”

The Spurs rookie went 9/13 from the field against the Wizards. That marked it fourth time in Harper’s last five games hit at least half of the shots he took from the field.

“I’m just putting in the work. I think over time if we just keep shooting, shooting, shooting and focusing on the right things, I think my jumpers will start to become more consistent,” the former Big 10 freshman standout continued. “I think that’s just what I’ve been doing, whether it’s before a game, whether it’s my day off going to the gym and shooting. I’m just staying consistent with it and just trying to improve.”

Harper makes the Spurs more dangerous

Even having already missed three weeks of the season with a calf strain, Harper’s play in just 16 games solidified what the Spurs thought he could be when they drafted him right after Cooper Flagg was traded in June. Along with reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, he forms the duo that San Antonio has is reportedly considered untouchable in any potential trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“You’ve got to pick your poison. You’re either going to let us play one-on-one at the rim, or you’re going to help and let us shoot and get threes,” Harper said after the win against Washington.

Add generational talent Victor Vembanyama plus 2023 All-Star De’Aaron Fox, and Harper claims these Spurs have no shortage of options.

“We’ve got so many guys that can go out there and score the ball at will. So we just have to find the hot hand and keep it going.”

Most recently it was Harper.





2025-12-19 17:53:00

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