Dylan Harper’s success with Spurs is quietly driving the AJ Dybantsa draft narrative

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Dylan Harper’s success with Spurs is quietly driving the AJ Dybantsa draft narrative originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Dylan Harper has been putting up historic-level numbers in the playoffs while forming strong chemistry with his San Antonio Spurs teammates Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. His rise from the No. 2 overall pick to a postseason hero has been seen as a proof of rapid, high-level player development.

With the contributions from young pieces like Harper, the Spurs are building toward something historic. His postseason surge has also started drawing comparisons around the league, including discussions involving the Washington Wizards, who are projected to select AJ Dybantsa after landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery.

The Spurs already feature established talent like Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, with Harper brought in to complete the core rotation. After a relatively quiet regular season adjustment period, his playoff performance has been a full breakout. He is averaging 13.7 points per game on 66% true shooting in 11 postseason games.

Harper also holds the highest two-point percentage by a guard in NBA playoff history at 62.7%. He has shown a major shooting transformation from deep over his first 79 NBA games. In his first 40 games, he shot 24.5% from three on 102 attempts, but in his last 39 games, that number jumped to 45.4% on 97 attempts.

Meanwhile, the Wizards already have established stars like Anthony Davis and Trae Young, and will be looking for their incoming No. 1 pick to deliver the kind of immediate impact Harper has provided to the Spurs. On the college side, Dybantsa arrives after leading BYU with 25.5 points per game during his career.

Dybantsa entered the lottery as the clear frontrunner to land with the Wizards, largely due to how well he projects alongside their young core. It marks the first time Washington has held the No. 1 overall selection since 2010, when they drafted guard John Wall.

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