Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama: Court Connection
In his preseason debut with the San Antonio Spurs, Dylan Harper showed that he is quickly learning how to leverage Victor Wembanyama’s potential. Harper threw an alley-oop to Wembanyama, who finished the play with a two-handed dunk, making it clear that few can compete with the star rookie’s wingspan.This play was just a detail in Harper’s near-perfect performance in the first half. In 12 and a half minutes, he recorded a +22, scoring 9 points on 4 of 5 field goals and 2 assists. He added another assist in the third quarter before leaving the game with 6:23 remaining, due to a minutes restriction. In total, Harper played 18 minutes and finished with a +20.I’m going to throw it a little higher.
Dylan Harper
Harper admitted he felt nervous in his debut, but quickly overcame them. His first two assists were alley-oops to Wembanyama and Luke Kornet. He was also active on defense, guarding players all over the court for most of his minutes.It’s just another step for him and his young career. Obviously, he made some plays, which I hope makes him feel good. But just being able to do it in front of the fans and under the bright lights, whether it’s the plays that people will talk about when he scored, made a shot, or made a good pass. Just being able to get through the team’s defense and run the court, it’s an invaluable experience.
Mitch Johnson, Spurs Coach
Harper scored his first basket 10 seconds after entering the game in the first quarter, with a layup after an assist from Harrison Barnes. Then, he outmaneuvered his former Rutgers teammate, Ace Bailey, for his next basket.It’s good to be on the court with him. He seems ready, he already feels very comfortable throwing these kinds of passes. So I’m very confident and I’m very happy to be able to spend time on the court with him.
Victor Wembanyama
Harper missed the first two preseason games as a precaution after undergoing surgery in September to repair a partially torn collateral ligament in his left thumb. Wearing a splint on his injured thumb, Harper participated in many of the club’s training camp workouts. Spurs officials wanted to limit the 19-year-old player’s exposure to contact. Harper emerged unscathed from his first preseason action, but admitted he must “rewire his brain” to accurately calculate how to pass alley-oops to his new 7-foot-4-inch teammate.Just being back on the court with those guys, just to get the chemistry started before the season starts, it felt good to play again. My teammates do a great job of empowering me, and they’ll let me know what I’m doing wrong. But, ultimately, they’re here to help me and I’m here to help them. Just having that confidence behind me is very helpful.
Dylan Harper
I should have thrown it higher, much higher. It’s weird. Nobody has played with someone so tall. You go out. You throw it and you think you threw it too high. But then he catches it and you say, ‘It’s a little low.’ So just things like that. Just throw it where nobody else can get it, just him.
Dylan Harper
