Spurs rookie Dylan Harper is not enjoying the best statistical season by an NBA rookie. not by a long shot. But, thanks in part to Stephen Cassel and De'Aaron Fox – as well as Victor Wembanyama – he is enjoying one of the most successful seasons by any standout rookie. By a long shot.
Harper shared, "With three dynamic guards, we're hard to figure out. I think when Fox and Steph start playing, we've got the two best guards in the NBA." "And I think when I come off the bench, I think it's another weapon that we have. So, I think it opens up the door for everybody, including Vick. And I think when Vick has that much pressure and two guys go at him, it opens up the world for us."
Harper is seventh on the team in scoring with 11 points per game. Playing 22 minutes per night, the second overall pick of last summer's draft is seeing the floor significantly less than Cassel and Fox. The reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 16.6 points in 29.7 minutes, while Fox, a two-time NBA All-Star, is scoring 19 points per night in a team-leading 31.6 minutes of action.
Harper praised his other teammates, saying, "I think we can all score from everywhere. That's the beauty of this team. We can all dribble the ball."
Harper added, "We have a group of ball handlers and a group of scorers. So, every night is going to be a big night." “As a collective group, just coming forward and helping as much as we can, it's great for us.”
Victor Wembanyama praises Stephen Cassel
Although all are dynamic offensively, Harper, Castle and Fox each have an aspect of their game that they do better than the other two. Fox is the best scorer of the three. Harper may be the best at getting to the rim. And Castle is easily the best defender of the group.
“He has understood his role very well,” Wembanyama said. “The level he's playing at is really unseen for a second-year player and how it fits into our game plan.”
Nicknamed "Area 51" as an allusion to their jersey numbers and Wembanyama's 'alien' nickname, Wembanyama and Cassel are one of the most lethal defensive combinations in the NBA.
“I know we make it difficult, we make it uncomfortable for people to play against us,” Wembanyama said. "That's the goal because a guy has to dribble around one of the best on-ball defenders and then make a shot against some of the best rim protectors; it's very tough."
Dylan Harper overwhelmed by Spurs success
While Cooper Flagg and Kohn Knueppel lead the Rookie of the Year discussion, Harper will likely be playing even if he doesn't play this spring.
"It feels great," Harper said of the Spurs' success. "I think this is the most wins I've had in a long time. So, to have this win streak and keep it going and not take teams for granted, I think, is huge for us."
Thanks to former Rutgers stars, Fox and Cassel, the Spurs are currently seeded second in the West. Their position at the top is much closer to the Oklahoma City Thunder than the teams behind them.
