Spurs rookie Dylan Harper showcases resilience and versatility, proving vital on both ends of the court.
SAN ANTONIO — All NBA rookies will eventually meet the “rookie wall.”
That moment in a young pro’s career when the challenges of road travel, competing against top-tier opponents weekly, and possibly overthinking on the court start to catch up and affect their game.
And San Antonio Spurs‘ rookie guard Dylan Harper is no exception, but head coach Mitch Johnson isn’t worried about the young pro.
“I think it’s probably just percentages even out,” said Johnson. “It’s a long season, and not everyone can be as efficient as we want to be throughout the season.”Harper began the season with high expectations.
Off the bench, the 2026 No. 2 overall pick averaged 11.8 points per game with 54% field goal shooting in four games in November. He followed that up by averaging 10.3 points per game, along with 3.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 42% shooting in 14 games in December. He showed poise on the court and made key shots in games when the team needed it the most.
That impressive performance earned him a nomination for the December 2025 NBA Rookie of the Month Award.
“I think it’s probably just percentages even out. When we all saw him play at the start of the year, it felt like he’d been in the league for seven years, and he had a rough patch, and everybody wants to know what’s wrong with him,” Johnson said.
From Dec. 27, 2025, to Jan. 11, Harper’s shooting percentage fell to 31%, and his two-point shooting declined to 37%. Additionally, he was a -3.1 when on the floor.
However, since that time, Harper has rebounded well.
From Jan. 13 to Jan. 25, Harper’s shooting percentage increased to 48.1%, and his two-point shooting rose to 61.1%. He has been a +3.1 while on the floor. He’s averaging 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and attempting 7.7 free throws per game. He also posted a +18 in the team’s recent loss to the Pelicans, playing 16 minutes off the bench.
“The scoring is very natural for him, and so to continue to put the energy into all the other areas, the ball will find him. He will find the bottom of the net, because he’s a natural scorer,” Johnson said.
The Spurs’ head coach suggests that when Harper is struggling, he should focus on other parts of his game. He encourages the rookie to create plays for his teammates, work on his rebounding, and trust that his teammates will find him in the right spots on the court where he can be more effective.
“Continue to make plays off the ball. Force teammates get into the mix, rebounding, and some of those things,” he said. “I think just to continue to put his energy into the other stuff. When we do that, typically, your teammates help you in that regard, also in terms of scoring and getting the ball to you in the right spots.”
The rookie guard has definitely accomplished more than just scoring this season.
Among rookies, he ranks fifth in assists (3.5 per game) overall, fifth in loose balls recovered among rookie guards, and has led the Spurs in steals in eight games this season. On December 23, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he finished the game with 10 assists and five steals, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to record five or more steals and eight or more assists in a single game.
From Coach Johnson’s perspective, Harper is performing well in his first season. He excels at attacking the rim, is a dependable facilitator, and is an influential player on both ends of the court.
He will be okay as his rookie season develops, and Johnson recognizes that a certain level of patience is needed with the 19-year-old.
“I think give him some grace on having whatever people want to allude to as a rough patch, it’s fine.”