Rookie Dylan Harper delivers highlight lob to Wembanyama in Spurs preseason win
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SAN ANTONIO — No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper made an immediate impression in his first preseason appearance for the San Antonio Spurs, throwing a late-half alley-oop to Victor Wembanyama as the hosts edged the Utah Jazz 134-130 on Friday night.
The pass, delivered with 44.3 seconds left before intermission, set up a two-handed dunk by the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama and prompted Harper to promise his new teammate he would “throw it a little higher” next time.
Harper’s first half bordered on flawless. In 12½ minutes he posted a game-best plus-minus of +22, shot 4-for-5 and rang up nine points with two assists. The 19-year-old added another assist early in the third quarter and exited for good with 6:23 remaining because of a minutes restriction, finishing with 18 minutes and a +20 rating.
“It’s just another step for him,” head coach Mitch Johnson said. “He made some plays he should feel good about, and doing it under the lights is invaluable experience.”
Harper admitted he felt pregame nerves but shook them off quickly, logging alley-oop feeds to Wembanyama and Luke Kornet for his first two assists while picking up defenders full court on the other end.
“He looks ready, very comfortable already throwing these kinds of passes,” Wembanyama said. “I’m very happy to spend time on the court with him.”
The rookie’s first basket came just 10 seconds after he checked in at the 6:12 mark of the opening quarter, sprinting past his defender for a layup off a Harrison Barnes assist. Moments later he dribbled by former Rutgers teammate and No. 5 pick Ace Bailey for another score.
Harper missed San Antonio’s first two preseason contests while recovering from September surgery to repair a partially torn collateral ligament in his left thumb. Wearing a protective splint, he practiced throughout training camp, but the club limited contact until Friday.
Healthy after his debut, Harper said he still needs to recalibrate his lobs for a 7-foot-4 target. “You throw it up and think it’s too high, then he catches it and you’re like, ‘It’s a little too low.’ Just throw it where no one else can get it but him,” he said.
Source: ESPN
