Still overwhelmed by emotions, Dylan Harper made sure the biggest moment of his basketball career didn’t pass without thanking his Filipina mother, Maria.
Dylan Harper had barely settled into his seat at the NBA Draft green room when commissioner Adam Silver called his name.
Just like that, the Filipino-American guard out of Rutgers became the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — the latest high-upside prospect to join the San Antonio Spurs’ rapidly evolving young core.
[ALSO READ: Spurs bolster backcourt with selection of Dylan Harper as second pick in 2025 NBA Draft]
It marked San Antonio’s third straight draft with a top-four selection. The Spurs selected French phenom Victor Wembanyama first overall in 2023 and followed that up by taking Stephon Castle fourth in 2024.
Both went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons.
Now, the Spurs add Harper — the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and Filipina mother Maria, a former University of New Orleans player and longtime coach — to a team that recently acquired All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox in a blockbuster trade.
[ALSO READ: Fox to Spurs, Lavine to Kings in latest big NBA trade - reports]
“I think when you play with a bunch of great players, it just brings the best out of you,” Harper said just moments after he got drafted.
He added: “They got a great young core over there. I’m just ready to get in there and make an impact anywhere I can with those guys.”
Harper, 6-foot-6, was one of the top guards in the 2025 class and posted strong numbers in his lone collegiate season at Rutgers behind 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
His game mirrors San Antonio’s vision of a positionless system built on skill and size. While questions around fit surfaced given the Spurs’ existing backcourt depth, team officials made it clear the focus was on adding the best available talent — not drafting by position.
Harper also gave a special shoutout to his mom in perhaps the biggest moment of his young pro career to this point.
“She means the world to me,” he said. “She even coached me from first grade all the way to senior high school. For her to see this moment, and just to be there for my journey — I love my mom. Everything I do is definitely for her.”
He also believes the culture in San Antonio will bring out the best in him.
“I think all my life, it’s always been how can I go somewhere where you make something happen and obviously get to the championship,” Harper bared.
“With that young group, they’re in the right direction. They’ve got a great everything, man — from the front office to the equipment manager, to the video guy. I think the coach over there is great. I’m just happy that I’m a part of it now,” he continued.
The Spurs rounded out their first round by selecting Arizona wing Carter Bryant with the No. 14 pick and later traded the 38th overall pick to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a future second-rounder and cash considerations.