Dylan Harper became just the 3rd rookie in Finals history to score 10+ points in any quarter in the play-by-play era (since 1998).
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SAN ANTONIO — In his very short time with the San Antonio Spurs, he has already developed a rare talent which sets him apart from most of his peers, and it is this: He can stir the imagination of thousands.
This is the typical reaction inside Frost Bank Center whenever Dylan Harper does something age-defying, which happens regularly now, the latest in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals — on the biggest stage — when he dropped a layup while nearly twisting himself into a Twizzler to avoid defenders.
It was both an athletic and daring play by the 6-foot-6 guard, and the breathless response no doubt among those who marveled at it was this:
He’s just a rookie?
And he’s only 20?
Yes, given those details, these witnesses are understandably caught up in the player’s potential more than the present, although there is one person in attendance who does nothing except shrug. That’s because what we’re seeing from Harper now, and what we suspect we’ll get from him in the future, is nothing new to the father who knew.
“A long time ago,” said Ron Harper, matter of factly, “when he was probably 12. Because he loved the game, that’s how I could tell. He loved to play, always had a basketball in his hands since he was two.”
Ron Harper is a reliable source not only because, obviously, he’s a “proud dad, super proud” as he says, but also a five-time champion with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. That combo makes him a ball-knower, more qualified than most fathers when it comes to projecting a son’s potential.
As a player, Dylan already checks more boxes than an Amazon worker. Good size, solid skills, very coachable, blends well with teammates, stretchy shooting range, strong finisher at the rim and energetic defender.
But, and this is most attractive, at 20 he’s hardly a finished product.
His father’s scouting report is this: “His game is not weak. He plays hard. And he knows how to play. I don’t think there’s a weak part of his game. Got an all-around game. He’s just as proud of being a defensive player as he is a scorer. He just needs more repetition.”
Yes, the “weakest” part of his game is his age. He’s not as good now as everyone projects him to be very soon.
But, what about now? He was the Spurs’ best player through much of Game 1. Imagine, a rookie setting the tone, scoring 12 of his 16 points (with six rebounds and a 12 plus-minus) in the first half, causing the New York Knicks to tweak their game plan. He became the youngest player to score double digits in a Finals game and his 251 playoff points surpassed David Robinson’s rookie total with the Spurs.
The Association speaks on rookie Dylan Harper’s great Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Isn’t a rookie’s knees supposed to knock when he’s tossed into the flame of the championship round and asked to produce?
The Finals aren’t sympathetic toward rookies, or even heavily populated by them, mainly because the best tend to play for the worst teams and therefore never get the chance. The ultimate exception: Magic Johnson, with his epic 42-point performance for the Lakers in the 1980 clincher; he’s the only rookie Finals MVP.
But no Finals rookie of any significance was as young as Harper, who was still a teenager at the All-Star break.
“My first year in the league and being at the Finals is a blessing,” Dylan said. “I feel like this is every kid’s dream, every basketball player’s dream.”
It certainly was his father’s dream once Ron Harper in mid-career joined Michael Jordan. Suddenly it became realistic. Harper entered the league as a scorer; he was the 1987 Rookie of the Year who averaged 22.9 points. Then he gradually morphed into a tenacious defender and, alongside Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, made life hell for the team on the other bench.
That experience with the Bulls, and later with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal with the Lakers, gave Harper immeasurable championship tales and know-all to pass down to Dylan prior to the 2026 Finals.
“Me and my dad talk here and there,” said Dylan. “He gave me little tips about the Finals and things like that, but ultimately you’ve got to experience it on your own to kind of know how to navigate through it.”
When Ron Harper talks basketball and kids, he always mentions two — Dylan and Ron Jr., the older brother who finished this season with the Boston Celtics.
“When they were younger both wanted to play in the NBA. I said, ‘OK, work hard at it, stay positive and don’t let nobody discourage you. Because everybody’s going to compare you to what I did.’
“I would’ve been fine if they chose to do something else in life, as long as they did something positive. But they wanted to play in the NBA. That was their dream, not mine, since they were small. And they wanted to play in the NBA at the same time, and here they are. Hey, stuff happens.”
Both were also schooled on basketball by their mom, Maria, who coached both of their high school teams as an assistant. And as the younger brother, Dylan also had the advantage of being developed by an older brother and of course, a father who saw the drive very early.
“We competed in everything,” Ron Harper said. “Like Wiffle ball. I would throw them the ball and they wanted me to throw it harder. I’d ask them, you really want me to throw it fast? ‘Throw harder, dad.’ They would always compete in everything, against each other, against me. That’s how they learned how not to be scared of nothing, no situation.”
Even as adults, the competition continues, mainly outside of basketball.
“They are close friends, they hang out, talk a lot, love to play video games,” said the father. “I guarantee you after Game 1, Dylan went to the house, Ronald was probably already on the game console and they sat there and played until 2-3 o’clock in the morning.”
His sons were just vaguely aware of what he once did for a living; they didn’t come of age until after Harper retired. He never played old videos of his games while at home, so they learned from school mainly, from friends — and their fathers — who explained just how accomplished Ron Harper was in the league.
“After a while, they heard it so much that they wanted to be as good as me,” Ron Harper said. “And I always told them that I hoped they would strive to be better than me. Don’t be me, be better than what I was. Be great at it.”
When the Spurs-Knicks series began, the father reminded his son of that message and had a request for him and his brother:
“I want them to win more championships than me. That’s the goal I set. Win more than me.”
Dylan Harper has a chance to creep within four, here in his first season. Much like his father rode shotgun to Jordan, it helps that Dylan is with Victor Wembanyama, who’s just two years older. Common basketball sense says Dylan will have multiple chances at championships because, well, there’s a tendency to project his future, with good reason.
Dylan played just four minutes in the fourth quarter of Game 1, when the Knicks made their victorious rally, and it would come as a surprise if he’s on the bench again in such a situation.
Dylan Harper talks with the media ahead of Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
“I feel like everyone wants to be out there in those times and to close the game out,” Dylan said. “But we won 62 games, we made it this far. So I’m going to keep trusting in the coaching staff, trusting in (coach) Mitch (Johnson) and just having that trust, knowing that they know what’s best for the team. And if they think that’s the best thing for the team and that helps us win the most, I’m all for it. Obviously, you want to be out there, but ain’t nothing to hang my head on.”
Ron Harper said: “It was a tough game, the Knicks played hard. He played great that day, but you know we need the whole team to play. Like I told him, stay positive. He joined a great organization.”
When a 20-year-old can deliver as he did in his first NBA Finals and strike the imagination of everyone who witnessed it, then yes, Dylan Harper has a chance to catch his father.
But five championships is a steep number. He’ll need to get started. It’s not about the future for a rookie, in that regard. It’s about now.
“He’s been around the game for a long damn time,” said the father. “That’s why he’s not your normal 20-year-old kid. He has an edge to him that he doesn’t show. He loves to work on his game. He knows what he’s doing.”
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
