Spurs grab Fil-Am Dylan Harper with No. 2 overall pick in NBA draft

Metro Manila, Philippines - Filipino-American basketball player Dylan Harper has been selected by the San Antonio Spurs with a second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 26 (Manila time).

Harper followed the first overall pick Cooper Flagg, who will play for the Dallas Mavericks.

Harper is the son of Ron Harper, who played 15 seasons in the NBA and won five NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. His older brother, Ron Harper Jr., currently plays for the Detroit Pistons.

Dylan’s mother, Maria, hails from Bataan. She served as Dylan’s basketball coach from elementary through high school. She also played for the basketball team of the University of New Orleans.

Maria and Ron Jr. attended the draft night and the post-selection interview.

“I’m feeling everything, all emotions mixed in one bucket,” the No. 2 pick said in an interview after being drafted.

“When you play with a bunch of great players, it brings the best out of you… I’m just ready to get in there and make an impact,” Harper said.

The 19-year-old player is a point guard from Rutgers University. During the 2024-2025 season, Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.

He will join the Spurs squad, which features Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Devin Vassell.