Dylan Harper facts for kids
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Harper with the San Antonio Spurs in 2026
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| No. 2 – San Antonio Spurs | |
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| Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 2, 2006 Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| High school | Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Rutgers (2024–2025) |
| NBA Draft | 2025 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Selected by the San Antonio Spurs | |
| Pro career | 2025–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2025–present | San Antonio Spurs |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Dylan Robert Harper (born on March 2, 2006) is a talented American professional basketball player. He plays for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA), which is the top basketball league in the world! Before joining the NBA, Dylan played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He was chosen as the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft by the Spurs. Many experts considered him one of the best young players in his age group. Fun fact: his dad, Ron Harper, was also a famous NBA player!
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Dylan Harper's Early Life and High School Basketball Journey
Dylan Harper was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on March 2, 2006. He grew up in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and went to Don Bosco Preparatory High School. Dylan quickly showed his amazing basketball skills. In his second year, he scored an average of 15.2 points in each game. As a junior, he was named the Boys Basketball Player of the Year by NJ.com! That year, he averaged nearly 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game. During his final year of high school, Dylan led his team, the Ironmen, to an incredible 29-3 record and a state championship! He averaged 22.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Besides school basketball, Dylan also played for the New York Renaissance in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) games. He even joined a special training camp for the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team in 2023.
Becoming a Top College Prospect
Because of his incredible talent, Dylan was considered one of the very best young basketball players in the country. Many sports experts, like ESPN, even ranked him as the number one player in his class before his senior year! On December 6, 2023, Dylan decided to play college basketball for Rutgers. This was a special choice because his older brother had also played there. He chose Rutgers over many other famous basketball schools like Duke and Kansas. Dylan became the highest-ranked player ever to commit to Rutgers, which was a huge deal for their team!
Dylan's College Basketball Experience
During his first year at Rutgers, Dylan played exceptionally well. He averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His great performance earned him a spot on the third-team All-Big Ten and the all-freshman team. On March 31, 2025, Dylan announced that he would enter the 2025 NBA draft, ready to take his skills to the professional level.
Dylan Harper's Professional Basketball Career
Joining the San Antonio Spurs
Dylan Harper was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs as the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. This was a huge moment for him! He joined the Spurs' NBA Summer League team in 2025. On July 3, 2025, the Spurs officially signed Dylan to their team. He made his exciting NBA debut on October 22, coming off the bench to score 15 points, grab 4 rebounds, and make 2 assists in a big win against the Dallas Mavericks.
Amazing Rookie Season and NBA Finals Debut (2025–2026)
Dylan had an incredible first year in the NBA! On March 21, 2026, he scored a career-high 24 points in a victory over the Indiana Pacers. After his fantastic regular season, Dylan was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, which means he was one of the best first-year players in the league!
Dylan continued to shine in the 2026 NBA playoffs. On April 24, in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, he scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He and his teammate Stephon Castle made history by both scoring over 25 points in a playoff game at such a young age. Dylan also became the youngest player ever to get at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in a conference finals game! In the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dylan had an amazing game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and a record-breaking 7 steals! He was only the second rookie in NBA history to achieve such a stat line in a playoff game, joining the legendary Magic Johnson.
The Spurs made it all the way to the 2026 NBA Finals! In Game 5, Dylan scored a team-high 25 points. Although the Spurs lost the series 4-1 to the Knicks, Dylan had a fantastic first Finals appearance. He averaged 18 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, even though he came off the bench. He was the Spurs' second-highest scorer in the series, right behind Victor Wembanyama.
Playing for Team USA
Dylan also represented his country! He was chosen to play for the United States under-19 basketball team in the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup. In this international tournament, he averaged 9.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Team USA finished in fourth place, showing Dylan's talent on a global stage.
Dylan's Talented Family
Basketball talent runs in Dylan's family! His father, Ron Harper, was a very successful NBA player who played for 15 seasons and won five NBA championships. Dylan's mother, Maria, also played college basketball for the University of New Orleans. She even coached basketball at Don Bosco High, where she coached both Dylan and his older brother, Ron Harper Jr! Dylan's brother, Ron Harper Jr., also played college basketball at Rutgers and now plays for the Boston Celtics. It's a family full of athletes!
