Spurs’ Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle up the ante for NBA Cup Finals vs. Lakers

The San Antonio Spurs may not have Victor Vembanyama for his first ever knockout round NBA Cupbut what they will lack in his talent, they make up for in focus. Count dynamic young guards Dylan Harper and Stephen Castle among those who are very much looking forward to dealing with Los Angeles Lakers.

“Try to beat everybody,” Harper said of the Spurs’ prospects in the league’s regular season.

“Big role play,” Castle added. “In LA, I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that. So it should be fun.”

“Try to beat everyone”
– Dylan Harper
“Big role play in LA. It doesn’t get any better than that…”
– Steph Castle#Spurs set for their 1st #NBACup knockout Rd match tomorrow when he faces a familiar foe for the first time….sort of@martinezlavsa Report⬇#GoSpursGo#PorVida pic.twitter.com/ezDRarBdV9

— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) December 10, 2025

Although they were competitive in the NBA Cup last year, the quarterfinal game in California will prove the Silver and Black’s first foray into the elimination stages.

And while this isn’t the Spurs’ first meeting with the Lakers this season, it will be in several ways.

The quarterfinals of the NBA Cup will feature different teams of the Spurs and Lakers

San Antonio lost in Los Angeles on Nov. 5.

Not on court in 118-116: Austin Reaves, LeBron James, De’Aaron Fox or the rookie, Harper. Vembanjama played that night. Not this time after Spursamid speculation he could suit up, ruled him out of the game with the same calf strain that has sidelined him since mid-November.

For Harper, that’s his first hit in one of the two most famous NBA franchises.

“I didn’t get to play in LA the first time,” the former Rutgers star continued. “So, I mean, playing in LA is fun. But I’m just excited to go there.”

With James in the lineup, it also means a shot at one of the game’s all-time legends as well as one of its current premier players.

“Luka (Doncic) didn’t really come on the scene until I was in high school, high school,” said the 19-year-old rookie. “But as someone who’s a big guard, you kind of watch him grow up, his film stuff, his pace, his height. He’s getting to his spots and moving and all that.”

Harper then made sure to clarify.

“But now we’re competing, so we just go out there with the mindset that we’re all the same.”

The Lakers are second in the Western Conference standings this season. The Spurs are hovering around fifth placealthough only defeat separates the two going into their match.

“It’s a never-ending battle when you play a team sport,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said. “And it’s my job to make sure we win that battle and impose our will, that we’re going to do what’s best for the team every time, knowing that’s not going to happen, because nobody’s perfect. But that’s going to be the standard we play to and aspire to play to.”

The winner will face the winner between the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Cup Western Group semifinals. The Final Four of the tournament takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada. The loser will face the loser between OKC and Phoenix. The Spurs will host that game before their season resumes as scheduled against the Washington Wizards on Dec. 17.