The 2025 NBA Draft concluded on June 26. The Spurs held three picks going in, but traded pick No. 38 to the Pacers for a future second-round pick and cash considerations.
In the end, they selected Dylan Harper out of Rutgers with the second overall pick and Carter Bryant from Arizona with pick No. 14.
After getting drafted, Harper got a funny FaceTime call from Victor Wembanyama, and the two young talents looked very excited to play with one another.
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He also mentioned that the Spurs will return to the playoffs next season.
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As for Bryant, he was thrilled to be surrounded by his childhood with people such as Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Gregg Popovich.
Harper was the consensus number two pick and possibly would have been number one if Cooper Flagg didn’t reclassify.
What These Rookies Bring
Harper is a phenomenal scorer, playmaker, and defender, making him one of the best young talents in the league. While some questioned his fit due to playing alongside De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, Harper can play on and off the ball, making him a great addition to the Spurs.
He isn’t the most efficient shooter, but he can improve with NBA-level training.
Bryant averaged under 20 minutes a game on a talented Arizona team. Despite his limited minutes, he made the most of his time. At six-foot-eight, Bryant has the ideal size and athleticism to defend multiple positions. He also shot 37% from three, making him one of the best 3-and-D players in this year’s draft.
Being selected 14th overall as the Spurs’ second lottery pick of the draft, Bryant can bring an immediate impact. The Spurs struggled defensively last season, and Bryant can help fill that hole and help a team that will be looking to contend for a title this year.
Spurs Summer League
The 2025 NBA Summer League kicked off with the California Classic. Bryant’s impact is not always shown on the stat sheet, and while he struggled at times to find his shot, he showed up on the defensive end.
In the matchup against the Mavericks and Cooper Flagg, Bryant showed why he was a lottery pick in this year’s draft. He took on the challenge of guarding Flagg and continued to make well-timed plays on defense.
After the game, Flagg commented on Bryant’s play, stating, “he’s an incredible player, really good person as well… plays really good defense, he didn’t look tired at all… I was definitely feeling a bit gassed.”
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As Bryant gets more comfortable playing at the professional level, he will become more of a threat on offense while continuing to be a menace on defense. Even early on, his performance in the Summer League has stood out.
Harper decided to sit out the California Classic but made his debut in Las Vegas against the Mavericks. It was a battle between the number one and two overall picks, and they did not disappoint.
The two shared buckets, and Harper even had words for Flagg after a tough finish.
This is the competitiveness that Harper will bring to the NBA, which fans love to see.
Throughout the game, Harper showcased his talented skill set and all-around game. Harper struggled from three but still managed to get to the rim and put points on the board. He also showed up on the defensive end, including a massive block in transition.
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Playing alongside Fox will allow Harper’s craft and skill set to improve over time.
The talent on the Spurs has continued to get better year after year. They have the last two Rookie of the Year winners and have a strong probability of making it three.
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