SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 21: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts with Keldon Johnson #3 after scoring against the Indiana Pacers in the second half at Frost Bank Center on March 21, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images If you follow NBA Draft conversations, you’ve likely heard some familiar narratives about Dylan Harper and the San Antonio Spurs. Some argue the Spurs should have taken Kon Knueppel, as he fits into the team’s current needs as a knock-down shooter who can play on or off the ball. Others argue that Harper is held back by his role on a team that is contending for a championship. In the Spurs’ 134-119 win over the Indiana Pacers, Harper’s role was changed from that of the first guard off the bench to a starter alongside De’Aaron Fox. The result was tying his career high with 24 points, adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists with no turnovers. We got a glimpse of a future when Harper plays a secondary role in the offense with Victor Wembanyama. That future is bright. Anyone who has watched the Spurs this season understands that Harper is already elite at getting to and finishing at the rim. What struck me about his performance against Indiana was all of the other stuff he did offensively. He hit floaters in the lane, turnaround mid-range jumpers, and knocked down a spot-up three. The game was a sign of the big leaps he’s made over the course of the season. Since the All-Star break, Harper is averaging 12.7 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 56.2% from the field and 43.9% from three. He’s evolved from an intriguing rookie to a legitimate offensive weapon who is up there with some of the most effective bench scorers in the NBA. After the game, Harper talked about what it has been like to accept a bench role this season: There is a load of maturity in that response. Harper has sacrificed the accolades and glory that other rookies, like Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, have received this season, for making a tangible impact on a winning team. Saturday night showed what Harper can do with an increased role. Harper can be a go-to scorer in the future. For now, he’ll keep helping the Spurs win as they approach the playoffs. Takeaways: It was another ho-hum near 5×5 game for Wembanyama with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks, and a steal. The Pacers had no chance of scoring inside when he was in the game. San Antonio outscored Indiana 76-48 in the paint. There isn’t another player in the NBA who makes a bigger defensive impact than Wemby. What was even more impressive about Wembanyama’s performance was his playmaking. Is Vic the best seven-foot-four lob thrower of all time? It’s possible. There is nothing more fun than watching Wembanyama handle the ball and toss an alley-oop to Carter Bryant or Luke Kornet. Julian Champagnie went 0-5 from three on Saturday but still managed to make an offensive impact by attacking closeouts and getting to the basket. It was one of the most drive-heavy games I’ve ever seen Champagnie play. Adding that wrinkle to the Spurs offense would be huge. Champagnie has proven that he can finish at the rim with athletic dunks when he has a runway. It’s not often you get a shooting specialist who can also put the defense on a poster. Come playoff time, Champagnie will have to make the defense respect his ability to put it on the deck if they close out too hard. I’ve really enjoyed Jordan McLaughlin’s minutes this season. He plays hard defense, moves the ball well, and knocks down open shots when they come his way. Having a competent fourth guard is an underrated aspect of the Spurs roster, and allows them to rest guys like Stephon Castle to get them fully healthy for the playoffs. It just feels like Keldon Johnson is going to have a game-winning performance in a playoff game this season. When he is getting to the rim and knocking down spot-up threes, it boosts the Spurs to another level. He had 24 points on 10-12 shooting on Saturday, giving the Pacers no chance of getting back into the game when the starters got a rest. That kind of bench production is going to swing a playoff series in a month or two. Harper’s performance got me thinking: How soon will we see legitimate minutes from the three-guard lineup, including him, Fox, and Castle? It could be a dangerous lineup come playoff time, especially if Harper and Castle continue to knock down catch-and-shoot threes. We haven’t seen much of it this season, but with all three’s ability to get into the paint and create for others, you’d think it would make sense for Mitch Johnson to go to it more. I’d like to see more of those three playing together next year at the very least. Non-Spurs note here. I love Kobe Brown. He hit three triples for Indiana. He’s not a main rotational player, but is shooting 44% from three this season. He’s a big-bodied forward who can hit outside jumpers and showed a lot of offensive creativity when he was an upperclassman at Missouri. If the Spurs are trying to build out their wing room for cheap in the near future, Brown could be an effective buy-low depth piece. ...read more read less