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Why Dylan Harper Must Start for the Spurs Moving Forward
From bench spark to Finals standout, the rookie guard has left De’Aaron Fox and San Antonio with no choice but to elevate him.
It’s a massive debate right now for both analysts and NBA fans. There is a valid case that Dylan Harper should have been starting in the NBA Finals and moving forward.
According to Sports Illustrated, it’s a classic championship-level dilemma between a rookie’s hot hand versus a veteran in both DeAaron Fox and the Spurs organization.
Case for Dylan Harper Starting Over De’Aaron Fox
The way that Harper was playing may have confused many fans. Harper looked like the veteran, while Fox played like a rookie. It was Harper who dropped 25 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
This proved he was unafraid of the moment, despite facing elimination. He was also the one who gave the offense a spark that opened up many opportunities for Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.
Fox was clearly not 100% after fighting the ankle sprain he sustained in the second round of the postseason. According to Real QM, however, Fox averaged only 16.0 points on 42.5% shooting in the 2026 playoffs.
