Dylan Harper, Wembanyama Duo Excites Spurs Fans After Going No. 2 in 2025 NBA Draft

The inevitable became reality on Wednesday as the San Antonio Spurs selected Rutgers guard Dylan Harper with the second overall pick in the NBA draft.

Victor Wembanyama was quick to welcome him to the roster:

Harper was universally considered a top-three high school prospect entering college last year. He then starred at Rutgers, averaging 19.4 points (48.4 percent shooting), 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report ranked the 6'5" 19-year-old second on his NBA draft big board and offered a pro comparison to Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham, adding that "with continued growth, it's easy to envision a Cade Cunningham-type All-Star path ahead."

"After a year of watching Rutgers basketball and months of predraft evaluations, scouts can't see anyone beating out Dylan Harper for No. 2 in this draft class," Wasserman wrote in part.

In the weeks and days leading up to the draft after the Spurs won the No. 2 pick in the lottery, it was clear that Harper would be the choice.

"Having bowed out of this month’s Kevin Durant chase and rebuffed offer after offer for the No. 2 pick over the past few weeks, the Spurs are expected to do the obvious thing and call Harper’s name Wednesday at the Barclays Center," Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News wrote on Tuesday.

Harper joins a young and talented team being built around superstar big man Wembanyama, who could rise to being the NBA's unquestioned top player someday.

But the Spurs also now have De'Aaron Fox (24.8 PPG, 6.1 APG since 2020-21 season) running the point. Reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle showed tremendous promise and progress too.

It may not be the best fit on paper with the Spurs potentially having a surplus of guards, but Harper is widely seen as the No. 2 overall prospect, so it absolutely makes sense that San Antonio is betting on his talent and selecting him here.

In the end, the Spurs are stockpiling promising talents around Wembanyama as the five-time NBA champions look to become perennial championship contenders soon enough.

Here's a look at how fans and analysts reacted to the pick. They're particularly excited at the thought of Harper teaming up with Wembanyama.

Harper lands in a great spot, as San Antonio is built to compete for the postseason with him aboard. The Spurs improved from 22-60 to 34-48 last year, and that was with Wembanyama playing just 46 games after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. With Wembanyama back aboard and flanked by a solid supporting cast that just added Harper, the Spurs could soon be in line for another run as a perennial championship contender.