The San Antonio Spurs are building a team for the next decade. They already have the last two Rookies of the Year, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, and added the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Dylan Harper. The guard recently spoke about his early days in the league and recognized the significant influence Manu Ginobili is having on his transition.
“I talk to him the most. About just the game and the speed and just how he adapted to it from a FIBA standpoint to coming over here,” Harper said about Ginobili in a recent interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
While Manu and Dylan followed very different paths to the NBA, the Argentine icon’s experience can still serve as valuable guidance for the rookie. That adjustment Harper mentioned was relatively quick for Ginobili—he arrived in the United States as one of Europe’s biggest stars and helped the Spurs win the 2003 NBA title in his rookie season.
On the topics they’ve discussed, the 19-year-old guard revealed: “What was his biggest changes being a player and being professional outside of basketball? What kept you locked in? Just all little things I think that every NBA player goes through.”
Dylan Harper playing for the Rutgers on January 25, 2025.
Harper entered the league as one of the most exciting young prospects, along with Cooper Flagg. He earned that status with an impressive stint at Rutgers during the 2024–25 season, where he averaged 19.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in 29 games.
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Upon arriving in San Antonio, Dylan didn’t just get the chance to speak with Ginobili—he also interacted with other Spurs legends, including recently retired head coach Gregg Popovich and five-time NBA champion Tim Duncan.
“I met Pop the first day I was there, and Tim,” Harper shared. “Pop was there getting treatment and doing exercises. That is not regular in any NBA gym. You see a Hall of Fame coach, a Hall of Fame player walking around the gym. And they are there like every day. I can pick their brain and ask questions.”
With their focus now on the upcoming season, the Spurs are aiming to end a long playoff drought that has lasted several seasons. They’ve missed the postseason for six straight years, and in their last two appearances in 2018 and 2019, they were eliminated in the first round. Now, with a young core beginning to come together, the outlook is far more promising.
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