Dylan Harper’s slump finally costs him on the NBA Rookie Ladder

Dylan Harper has fallen off the latest installment of the NBA Rookie Ladder completely. He was solid against OKC, going 3/7 from the field and making 2/3 three-pointers for a total of 12 points, but that one game wasn't enough to overcome the string of lackluster performances the rookie from Rutgers put on the floor.

D. Harp was number two for the last two weeks in a row, and with the Spurs approaching the 41st game of the season, time is running out to steal the Rookie of the Year trophy. It was always going to be a long shot, but now the deficit feels insurmountable.

Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Derik Queen, and Cedric Coward have kept up their consistency. They've increased their lead over San Antonio's struggling first-year guard and would need to see their production fall off a cliff to give him a chance to get back in the race. That's highly unlikely, so let's just focus on getting back on track.

Spurs' rookie is starting to raise doubts

Landing the number two pick in the 2025 draft was an insane moment that energized an already charged-up fanbase. Everyone knew who the pick would be. Harper was seen as the unequivocal second-best prospect in the class. Halfway through his first year in the league, we're seeing commentary like this.

Hilarious emoji choice aside, this is an emotional reaction to a young player having a tough time in an understandably difficult situation. He doesn't get to start. Things don't run through Harper like they once did. He joined a deep roster with other ball handlers, so his opportunities are scarce. Not to mention, it's the middle of the season, and defenses are game-planning against the talented rim-runner with more intentionality.

They've cut off the paint, sagging when he's on the perimeter and going underneath screens. Dyl's biggest goal in the offseason should be to develop his shot to counter that strategy. He can't do it during the year, though, so Coach Mitch Johnson and Harper's teammates will need to find a way to help their future franchise point guard out.

Fans never love to see the guy their team selected outplayed by prospects picked after him, but these are rare circumstances. This is the second seed in the Western Conference, and their strength is depth. A lot of guys get to touch the ball and aggressively attack their matchup. They don't rely on their point guards to initiate every action—at least not yet.

That doesn't mean he's not going to reach his ceiling. Nor does it mean the other players in his class will end up as better players. It just means we need to be patient, trust the coach, and give Harper time to develop. He'll be fine.