Spurs' title hopes now hinge on Dylan Harper assuming role almost nobody has had

The San Antonio Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox – and handed him a huge extension – so he could be their lead perimeter creator. But now, he’s hurt. Stephon Castle hasn't been the most consistent, even dealing with turnover problems early in the series. The Spurs desperately need shot creation outside of Victor Wembanyama. So, Dylan Harper needs to step up. He’s still a rookie. But it’s his time to shine. He needs to be the Spurs' second-best player.

Earlier in the series, Harper was great. He gave the Spurs some quality minutes, especially during their Game 1 victory on the road. But he hasn’t been himself for the last two games. And if San Antonio wants to bounce back from the 3-2 deficit it currently finds itself in, Harper has to be the best version of himself.

Fox is hurt. Castle hasn't been consistent enough. Nor has Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, or anyone else. Harper needs to take on the role that the Spurs wanted him to play. (Despite him also dealing with injury concerns...)

Dylan Harper needs to fill the void De'Aaron Fox (and his injury) is leaving

In an ideal world – a perfectly healthy world – the Spurs have both Fox and Harper helping them create offense (as well as Castle). But right now, that world doesn’t exist.

Fox is playing through an ankle injury right now, and it’s clear that he’s not the best version of himself – the version that won Clutch Player of the Year with the Sacramento Kings in 2023.

Castle is a second-year player. He's bound to be imperfect, and at his best, he's a secondary ball-handling option. Neither he nor Fox has played to the level of the second-best player in a playoff series.

That’s where Harper comes into the picture. Again, he’s still a rookie. Ideally, the Spurs would have him learning from Fox right about now, figuring out how he can best produce deep into the postseason.

But pressure makes diamonds. And the Spurs need to throw Harper into the deep end right now. Sink or swim. Because Fox just isn’t giving the Spurs enough. It’s tough with the injury, but the playoffs wait for nobody. (Harper included, because he's dealing with the remnants of an adductor strain.)

In Game 5, Fox finished the night with just nine points, four rebounds, eight assists, and three steals while shooting only 4-of-15 from the floor and 0-of-4 from deep range.

He played 32:31. Meanwhile, Harper only got 24:54 off the bench. Largely because he also wasn’t great, scoring just five points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field and 1-of-3 from deep.

Castle was effective in Game 5, scoring 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting. But in the two prior games, he was a combined 6-of-19. Just not consistent enough for a second-best player.

San Antonio needs Harper to take a leap. To fill the shoes that Fox can’t fill right now because of his injury. They need offensive creation, and Harper is the best man for the job.

He just has to step up to the plate.

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