Dylan Harper Reveals 'Dream Has Been Always to Play' at MSG in NBA Finals Ahead of Knicks vs. Spurs

Every NBA player has imagined reaching the Finals at some point. Matching up with the New York Knicks specifically is something San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper manifested.

"My dream has been always to play in the Garden in the NBA Finals," he told reporters after Saturday's 111-103 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. "I get to do that my first year."

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Harper was born in New Jersey and grew up less than an hour away from Madison Square Garden in Midtown. He watched the Knicks a lot in person as a fan.

The rookie will have also seen highlights and heard stories of father Ron going up against the Knicks when his dad played for the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls knocked New York out in the second round of the 1996 playoffs, the postseason that kicked off the second of Chicago's three-peats in the 1990s.

Setting Harper's personal connections aside, Madison Square Garden is one of the most storied venues in all of American sports. Whether playing for or against the Knicks, it's the kind of stage you dream about occupying with a title on the line.

Harper is assured of having at least two opportunities to take the floor at MSG in the 2026 Finals. The Spurs have home-court advantage, so they'll host Game 1 on Wednesday. The series will shift to the Big Apple for Games 3 (June 8) and 4 (June 10).