Dylan Harper's smooth showcase confirmed a truth Spurs fans have known all season

For a guy who didn't know he was going to get the first start of his career until right before the tip-off, Dylan Harper didn't look too shabby. In fact, it's never been more clear that Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg are fortunate San Antonio is so deep. The 2025 number two pick matched his career high with great efficiency and looked good doing it despite entering the game a little uneasy.

I bet the Pacers don't think Harper looked nervous. The crafty playmaker took off from the beginning; in the first quarter, he dropped 6 points on 3/3 FG with 2 assists to go along with it. He was a +11, and even though Indiana seems to be tanking as a franchise, Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Jarace Walker were doing everything in their power to win.

With Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell sidelined, the Spurs still have plenty of firepower, so in another collective effort, they dispatched the Pacers pretty easily. However, that shouldn't take away from the obvious truth that D. Harp would be a strong contender for Rookie of the Year if his circumstances were different.

Harper is proving there are no holes in his game

They tried to tell us this kid can't shoot, but they were always incomplete with that assessment. He hasn't been great at knocking down threes off the bounce, but after an inconsistent start to the season, he's been money on catch-and-shoots opportunities. The stat proving that will blow your mind.

Since the All-Star Break, Harper hasn't made a single off-the-dribble three-pointer, but he's shooting 58.6% when he's pulling up off an assist. This supercharged ability has helped the Spurs' offense crank it up a notch over the past month and a half.

If he had been a starter the entire season, averaging 30 minutes per game, his numbers would likely rival Knueppel's and Flagg's. Those two are the frontrunners, and with less than a month to go, it's looking like a two-man race with VJ Edgecombe on the far outside looking in.

That's because Edgecombe, although explosive, can be inconsistent. Harper has been steady the entire season, minus his run-in with the rookie wall in January. Take out that stretch most first-year players experience, and Spurs fans haven't had anything to complain about regarding the former Rutgers star.

That's because his game is predicated on getting in the paint and taking higher-percentage shots with an array of shifty moves, coupled with great strength for a rookie guard that's hard to contain.

There's no doubt in my mind that his numbers would balloon if he had the chance to start next to Victor Wembanyama. Fortunately, his sacrifice doesn't come without reward. He believes that playing on the team with the second best record in the league is pretty fantastic, stating every prospect should want to play in San Antonio. Spurs fans won't have a hard time getting behind that.