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By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
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The San Antonio Spurs fell to the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, sealing their fate as the runner-up of this year's championship series.
While the Spurs put forth a disappointing effort in the NBA Finals, the franchise still has a lot to look forward to with its young core of talented players.
The Spurs already had an excellent duo featuring 22-year-old superstar Victor Wembanyama and 21-year-old guard Stephon Castle, who notched back-to-back Rookie of the Year trophies in San Antonio. But after the conclusion of the 2026 postseason, it's clear the team has another future star in Dylan Harper.
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Harper, a 20-year-old rookie, finished the Spurs' Game 5 loss with a team-high 25 points through 31 minutes off the bench. He averaged 18 points, 6.4 rebounds and three assists per game through his first five NBA Finals appearances.
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“It meant a lot. I think a whole lot to grow on, whole lot to learn on," Harper said of his first playoff run. "It’s my first year, and you know, can’t keep moving forward if you don’t have a positive attitude.
"Obviously we lost and I wanted to win that. But at the end of the day, I've got to regroup, bounce back, get ready for next year.”
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Harper finished fourth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting, trailing Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and V.J. Edgecombe. But after elevating his play in the postseason, he'll enter his second NBA season with higher expectations as one of the best young guards in the league.
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