Spurs' Dylan Harper Says Workout With Giannis, Ace Bailey 'Switched My Brain'
Newly drafted San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper says working out with Giannis Antetokounmpo alongside his former Rutgers teammate Ace Bailey last season changed the way he sees the game.
"After that workout, it kind of switched my brain, me and Ace’s brain," Harper said about the workout on Thursday's episode of 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, a Wave original (19:05 mark).
Harper continued, "He might not be going the fastest, but he’s going the hardest in the gym... so just how he really pays attention to details, stuff like that.
"He’s like, 'You can’t be perfect, but you can get close to perfect.' So I mean, just trying to strive for things like that. So just to see his mindset and how he approached the workout was probably the best part about it."
Swish Cultures shared a video in September 2024 of Antetokounmpo meeting and working out with the two future NBA first-rounders ahead of their freshman college season.
The video shows Antetokounmpo giving both incoming Rutgers freshmen advice and, at one point, complimenting Harper's offensive skills during their workout.
"Defensive Player of the Year, 2020. I can't stop that. You missed, I did not make you miss," Antetokounmpo told Harper at the 16:30 mark of the video.
Both former Scarlet Knights players are now headed to the NBA after a single season in New Brunswick. Harper was selected by the Spurs with the No. 2 pick of Wednesday's first round of the 2025 NBA draft, three picks before Bailey went to the Utah Jazz at No. 5.
After his name was called at Barclays center, Bailey was asked by ESPN's Monica McNutt if he was ready to face Antetokounmpo once he joins the Jazz.
"Oh for sure, I got some more stuff for him for sure," Bailey responded.
Harper and Bailey will have to wait until schedules are released later this summer before the rookies can find out when they could potentially face Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time in their NBA careers.
