Spurs rookie Dylan Harper had a “Welcome to the league” reaction to the trip

The San Antonio Spurs are located in the middle of the projecting part, even for a franchise associated with “Rodeo Road Trip.” The Dec. 2 game at the Frost Bank Center against the Memphis Grizzlies serves as the only home game in a nine-game home stretch for the Silver and Black. For a beginner Dylan Harperwho has not yet endured the annual rodeo outing as it comes every February, it is a notice of the leap he has recently made.

“This is my welcome to the league moment.”

The second overall pick in last summer’s draft returned from a three-and-a-half-week absence during a road trip that took the Spurs through Phoenix, Portland – where he returned to action, Denver and Minneapolis.

“We’ve been on the road for, what, nine days?” Dylan said more with an exclamation than a question.

“Now we’ll be back for – I don’t know how much longer we’ll be on the road,” he continued.

Immediately following the contest against the Grizzlies, San Antonio travels to Orlando for a game the following night. They are at the Cleveland Cavaliers two days later before traveling to face the New Orleans Pelicans on December 8th. Because they won Group C of the NBA Cupthey now have a December 10th date at Staples Center. How they fared that night against the Group B champion Los Angeles Lakers will determine their next week as, as of now, the schedule is open until Dec. 17 against the Washington Wizards.

Dylan Harper reflects on travels and returns

The trip itself wasn’t all that caught Harper off guard.

“The hardest thing for me is just packing, honestly. I pack enough clothes. I think that’s something that’s very underrated. We went to Portland, thank God, I was able to go to Nike,” Harper said, referring to the company he signed an endorsement deal with.

“But on this trip, the clothes were tight,” the former Rutgers star concluded.

Harper scored 17 points in just 20 minutes in a 125-112 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves that snapped the aforementioned four-game hitting streak. He shot 8 for 12 from the field for a team that was shorthanded without Victor Wembanyama and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. It was Harper’s third game back after being sidelined since Nov. 2.

“Yeah, definitely. I think I’m getting back into rhythm, knowing where I need to be on the floor,” the 20-year-old point guard revealed when asked if he thinks his explosion is coming back as he returns.

“And just, honestly, my teammates do a great job of putting me in the right spots to win. I just go out there, play my game and just try not to think about it.

These games are definitely helping me get back to myself,” Harper concluded.

Maybe a night in his own bed will help Harper continue to achieve that sense of normalcy. But that’s about all they’ll get for now as the Spurs fly to San Antonio in the wee hours of December 1st, only to leave again overnight on December 3rd.

“You’re home for like 36 hours and, like, 24 hours, that’s crazy.”