As expected, Dylan Harper was drafted second overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA draft. Harper, who played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, is the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper.
Harper will take the legacy of his old man forward, and he is doing it with some confidence. Before the draft started, during an interview, host Taylor Rooks asked Dylan what he does better than his dad.
“Everything,” Harper replied, roasting his dad.
“What do you do better than your dad [Ron Harper]?” – @TaylorRooks
“Everything.” – Dylan Harper 😂🗣️ pic.twitter.com/zbjrrkpYK0
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 25, 2025
However, shortly after, Dylan spoke about the comparison in terms of skillsets between him and his father.
“I mean, my dad was definitely a great player. I mean, my dad scored the ball, passed the ball, played defense, but I think I’m just—I mean, I like to always have the utmost confidence in myself. So I’m just saying, I’m a little better at everything than him, except for jumping. He might have jumping over me. But aside from that, I got myself,” Dylan said.
Ron Harper was drafted eighth overall in 1986 by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He signed with the Chicago Bulls in 1994 to help MJ and Pippen complete a historic second three-peat (1996–1998). Over 15 seasons, Ron averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and assists across 1,009 games
Dylan Harper Expresses Gratitude For His Family Before The Draft
Dylan Harper pretty much knew where he was heading and who was going well before the draft. It was a mere formality completed on Wednesday. But before the draft night, Harper expressed gratitude towards her basketball-centric family.
“It’s definitely gonna mean a lot to my dad and a lot to everyone else — my mom, my brother, my grandparents and everyone else who’s there,” Harper said prior to the draft. “They kind of see me through the journey and watch me go about my days, even when I was high and low, they still stuck with me no matter what.”
Apart from Dylan’s father, Ron Harper, his mother, Maria (née Pizarro), played college basketball for New Orleans. She is currently an assistant coach at Don Bosco.
In the 1968 Summer Olympics, Harper’s maternal grandfather represented the Philippines. Harper’s older brother, Ron Harper Jr., also played at Rutgers before being drafted by the Toronto Raptors. He currently plays for the Detroit Pistons.
It remains to be seen how Dylan Harper takes the rich basketball legacy of this family forward with the Spurs, where he’ll join former first overall pick Victor Wembanyama.
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