Dylan Harper is SLAM magazine’s newest cover star after whirlwind rookie season with Spurs

San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper is featured on the cover of SLAM Magazine’s Issue 264, titled "The Awakening," ahead of his second NBA season. (SLAM)

Dylan Harper is the latest member of the San Antonio Spurs’ young core to take center stage on the cover of SLAM Magazine.

The Spurs second-year guard is featured on SLAM’s Issue 264, in his black No. 2 Spurs jersey, spinning a basketball on his finger. His name sits above an all-caps headline, "THE AWAKENING."

The honor puts Harper alongside current teammates Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, who have previously appeared on SLAM covers. Spurs legends Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have also been featured on the cover, as has Kawhi Leonard.

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In a YouTube video released with Harper’s cover shoot, the 20-year-old reflected on his first season and what stood out about the Spurs organization.

"The first day I walked in, I saw Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, David Robinson just walking around aimlessly, like, in the practice facility," Harper said. "It just shows kind of the family that the Spurs are."

Harper said he continued seeing the franchise legends around the facility throughout the summer. He called the Spurs "the best organization in the NBA."

The rook came alive on the biggest stage in the game. Get ready, Act 2’s bouta be a show. Dylan Harper for SLAM 264. 🪉: https://t.co/R4ghFtxG1K https://t.co/zjlvnGoIjJ

– SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 5, 2026

After a year of college ball at Rutgers, Harper was selected by the Spurs with the second pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

His rookie season gave him an early taste of high-stakes basketball. San Antonio played in the NBA Cup before advancing deep into the playoffs and reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. The dream season ended when the Spurs lost to the New York Knicks.

On their way to the championship round, the Spurs dethroned defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on the road in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.

"We kind of went through everything," Harper said. "We played the defending champs at their house in Game 7. We played in the Finals."

Harper said the experience left the Spurs wanting more.

"We didn’t win the whole thing," Harper said. "We lost in the Finals."

After the season, Harper was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. But he said he was working hard to improve in certain areas, including shot-making, ball handling and playing harder on both ends of the floor.

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"I just started getting in the gym more and more and more," Harper said. "I feel like that’s where I really took my jump."

Harper grew up around basketball: His father, Ron Harper, played 15 seasons in the NBA and was a member of five championship-winning teams. His message to younger players is simple: "Someone can’t want it more than you."

Dylan Harper believes the Spurs still have another level to reach.

"We all feel like we have a lot more, a lot more to go," he said. "So I feel like this year’s going to be special."

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This article originally published at Dylan Harper is SLAM magazine’s newest cover star after whirlwind rookie season with Spurs.

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.