San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper is betting on a big backcourt alongside Castle and Fox.
SAN ANTONIO — Heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, it was a certainty that the San Antonio Spurs would select Rutgers guard Dylan Harper.
However, it was a question of whether a crowded backcourt with Harper, Stephon Castle, and De’Aaron Fox would work.
Can three players playing a nearly similar game work? The rookie guard believes it can and will.
“Space out, play off each other. I think all three of us have a great feel for the game,” said Harper to SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Harper, Castle, and Fox provide the Spurs with a mix of talent, veteran knowledge (Fox), size, and versatility on the court. The trio will blend in with today’s modern NBA, featuring versatile guards who can excel on both ends of the floor. Defend, score, facilitate, and create. All three can do this and more.
Fox (6’3”), Harper (6’6”), and Castle (6’7”) create a big backcourt that can overwhelm smaller guards defensively and offensively. All three can create their own shots and facilitate for others, causing nightmares for the opposing defenses.
“I think we’re going to play off each other,” he said.
The bigger issue is their shooting. None of them are elite shooters. Fox is a career 33% shooter from the field, with Harper at 33.3% shooting at Rutgers, and Castle at 28.5% as a rookie.
However, improved shooting will come in time, and Harper sees the three guards duplicating what the NBA champion Thunder have done with their three-guard lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, and Jalen Williams.
“It is going to look just like the NBA Finals. I know SGA, J-Dub, all those guys, Cason Wallace, (Alex) Caruso, everyone is kind of three guards, four guards play with each other,” he said. “I think it’s going to look similar to that.”
Ultimately, Harper, Castle, and Fox can co-exist on the court. They may play similar games, but together, they can utilize their size, switch ability, playmaking, facilitating, and versatility within a position less system.
Will there be some clunkiness as the team tries to fit them? Sure, but in time it will come together, creating a formidable backcourt for the Spurs.
And the rookie guard is doing what he needs to do now to ensure the guard trio will come out firing on all cylinders at the start of the new season.
“I think I am really trying to polish everything. Getting my jump shot tighter, handle tighter, just defense, conditioning, everything. Just really getting mentally prepared, but physically prepared in the weight room, eat better, all that stuff,” said Harper. “Just honestly preparing for the next level.”