Dylan Harper Praised as Spurs' 'Second-Best Player' by NBA Exec Ahead Finals Game 5 vs. Knicks

At least one NBA executive feels the San Antonio Spurs should consider starting Dylan Harper for a must-win Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst reported Friday.

The Western Conference executive told Bontemps and Windhorst about Harper: "He's their second-best player. It's incredible how good he's become so quickly."

Harper came off the bench to contribute 21 points, second only to leading Spurs scorer Victor Wembanyama, in his team's Game 4 loss to the Knicks.

He shot 8-for-12 during in 32 minutes, and the Spurs outscored the Knicks by 12 points when he was on the court.

Spurs-Knicks Highlights

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De'Aaron Fox took over as the Spurs' main point guard down the stretch of Game 4, during which the Knicks finishing overcoming a 29-point deficit to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

Harper did not attempt a shot for the last ten minutes of the game, although he was on the court for the game-winning tip-in from O.G. Anunoby that sealed the Knicks' 107-106 victory.

Harper is still on one of the best playoff runs for a rookie in NBA history. He's averaged 13.6 points per playoff game and 16.3 points per Finals game in his postseason debut.

He is the third player in NBA history to record 300 points in a postseason at age 20 or younger, and the 10th rookie to ever clear that plateau in a single playoff run.

After routinely benching Harper down the stretch of Finals games in order to run his offense through Fox, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson could consider making changes to his regular game plan by giving Harper a bigger role this weekend in San Antonio.

The Spurs are facing a 3-1 series deficit and must win to keep the Knicks from claiming a title when Game 5 begins Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Frost Bank Center.