San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper’s NBA debut could be delayed after the No. 2 overall pick suffered a thumb injury during an offseason workout.
The 19-year-old guard tore a ligament in his left thumb earlier this week at the Spurs’ training facility, according to reports. On Friday, Dylan Harper underwent surgery to repair the partial tear, with hopes he will recover in time for San Antonio’s season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on October 22. ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the news.
While Harper’s availability for opening night remains possible, the San Antonio Express-News has reported that he is “unlikely” to feature during the preseason. The Spurs open their warm-up slate next month with four games, including matchups against the Miami Heat, Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers, plus an exhibition against the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Preseason minutes are especially valuable for rookies, who benefit from live NBA action without the pressure of wins and losses. For Harper, the setback is frustrating but not season-ending. If his recovery goes smoothly, he could still debut in Dallas or in the Spurs’ second game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 24.
The news comes in the same week that another top rookie, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Thomas Sorber, was ruled out for the season with an ACL tear. Sorber’s year-ending setback underscored the risks young players face during offseason training, though Harper’s situation carries a much more optimistic outlook.
San Antonio drafted Dylan Harper second overall out of Rutgers, where he starred as one of college basketball’s most dynamic guards. In his lone NCAA season, he averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals across 29 games, earning Big Ten honors and showing the ability to both score and facilitate.
There were questions about how Dylan Harper would fit into Gregg Popovich’s system alongside franchise centerpiece Victor Wembanyama, but the Spurs believe his combination of playmaking and competitiveness will allow him to contribute immediately. Even with the injury, the expectation remains that Harper will see meaningful minutes as a rookie.
For now, Spurs fans will wait on updates as Harper’s rehabilitation progresses. The team remains hopeful that the guard’s first appearance in silver and black will still come on one of the NBA’s biggest opening nights, when San Antonio faces Luka Dončić and the Mavericks in Dallas.
