The NBA Summer League is usually a time when NBA players in their second or third year in the league strut their stuff and dominate only to be shut down a game or two into the tournament. It’s also an opportunity for fringe NBA players to show that they deserve a roster spot or at the least, a training camp invite. 

And then there’s Dylan Harper. 

With the way the San Antonio Spurs have operated in the last two decades, one would expect Harper to be shut down after a game, but the Spurs have been allowing Harper to get some reps while also managing his minutes for what is essentially just some cardio. 

Harper’s dynamic playmaking ability was on full display against top pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks. He didn’t need the ball all the time to be effective and was always pushing the pace with his quickness. More importantly, Harper wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line, something San Antonio is both proud and worried about. 

His best performance yet, though, came in a game where his numbers would have told a different story.  

The Utah Jazz were all over Harper in the first half and he could not find any clean openings apart from his first basket. With his offense held in check, the Spurs were staring at a deficit that grew to as large as 14 points in the third quarter. Instead of forcing his shot, though, Harper found his teammates, getting them in rhythm while he was finding his. In the end, he made the shot that sent the game into overtime, while his teammates put the finishing touches on a hard-fought victory. 

It’s been quite the learning experience for Harper so far, as he’s had a mix of the good and the bad. When things don’t go his way, he responds instead of letting it get the best of him. That kind of attitude will help him when he’s in the middle of the regular season, which is a far cry from the summer league. 

However, it won’t be surprising if Harper will be shut down by San Antonio after two games. After all, the Spurs know what they’re getting in the former Rutger Scarlet Knight. San Antonio will likely take a cautious approach with someone they view as a significant part of their future (along with Victor Wembanyama). Harper was on a minutes restriction against the Mavs, but the Spurs loosened the leash against the Jazz in order to give the 19-year old some experience in earning wins. That may be enough to get him ready for training camp and beyond. 

Knowing how they operate, the San Antonio Spurs will likely play the long game with Dylan Harper, regardless if that means leaning towards load management in a lost season or putting Harper in situations where he will learn to succeed. 

In any case, Harper will continue to go all out, whether that means taking what the defense gives him or laying his body on the line. He’s shown Spurs fans what he can do in limited time, but when he has fully assimilated himself in San Antonio, sky’s the limit.