San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper is stepping into the nationally televised opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night feeling “very confident” in his outside shot. And after what he put up in preseason, you know he’s earned that swagger.
Harper’s Confidence Isn’t Just Talk: The Numbers Are WILD
This guy led the Spurs in preseason scoring with a 14.8 average, but the real kicker? He was absolutely lights out from beyond the arc, hitting a team-high 57.1% from 3-point range on 3.5 attempts. Think about that for a second! Last season, he was at 34.3% on 2.6 attempts. That’s a massive jump, right? We even saw it firsthand in the preseason finale, where he dropped 19 points against the Sacramento Kings in a dominant 126-97 victory, going 7 of 12 from the field and 3 of 6 from distance. Harper’s been putting in the work, too. He told us he “worked at it all summer, so there’s no reason for me to be hesitant. No reason to pull back. Biggest thing is just taking the right shots at the right time.” You love to hear that kind of focus from a second-year pro.
Why Harper’s Shot Is a Game Changer for This Spurs Lineup
This isn’t just about Harper getting his own numbers, it’s huge for the entire squad. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Harper’s outside shot was “incrementally improving” last year, calling him a “ridiculously talented young player who has really matured and really started to build a foundation of habits.” That’s high praise, and it shows why the team is leaning on him so hard. With the Spurs rolling out a speedy, downhill three-guard lineup featuring Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle alongside Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, Harper’s ability to shoot well from deep is absolutely critical to spread the floor. He’s owning that, too, saying shooting from the perimeter was a “big thing for me” to work on, “getting more comfortable with my shot, get more comfortable shooting off the dribble, and just try to be as efficient as I can.” They need him hitting those shots to open up lanes for everyone else on the floor.
So, as the Spurs tip off their season against OKC, all eyes are gonna be on Harper and that improved perimeter game. Then, don’t forget, they’ve got an early test coming up when they host the Blazers in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference finals, which they won in seven games. If Harper can carry that preseason efficiency into the regular season, the league is in for a shock, and the Spurs could be a serious problem. You just know this kid is ready to prove it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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