The San Antonio Spurs are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, and rookie guard Dylan Harper made clear after Saturday’s Game 7 win that celebration only goes so far.
After the Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 at Paycom Center to win the Western Conference finals 4-3, Harper repeatedly returned to one message: enjoy the moment, but keep moving.
“You know, there’s a reason why I’m here and just job not done. The job’s not finished,” Harper said, recalling advice from his father after San Antonio clinched the series.
The rookie finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes off the bench while helping the Spurs close out the top-seeded Thunder on the road. San Antonio received 22 points from Victor Wembanyama, 20 from Julian Champagnie and 16 from Stephon Castle in the win.
For Harper, the series-clinching moment represented validation after a postseason filled with pressure, injuries and expectations.
“I think just answering the call,” Harper said when asked about delivering in major playoff moments. “That’s kind of what I’ve always done is just put myself in that position, just double down on myself every time.”
Harper credited teammates and coaches for helping him thrive under pressure.
“My teammates, coaching staff, everyone does a great job of just empowering me to go out there and make plays and be myself,” he said. “When the time comes, I think for me, I just kind of go out there and I just trust my instincts.”
The rookie also spoke openly about what reaching the Finals means to him personally.
“When you picture the NBA Finals, what do you see?” Harper was asked.
“That’s where legends are made,” he replied. “That’s where big-time players kind of show when the lights get bright, because that’s the brightest light you could ever play in.”
Though Harper called reaching the Finals “unreal,” he quickly shifted toward the challenge ahead against the New York Knicks.
“Now it’s a reality and now we just got to go ahead and dominate these next few weeks,” Harper said.
The matchup carries personal meaning for Harper, a New Jersey native who grew up near New York and attended Knicks games.
“My dream has been always to play in the Garden NBA Final, and I get to do that in my first year,” Harper said. “I’m not going to take none for granted.”
“I live 25, 30 minutes from the arena,” he added. “I’ve been to so many Knicks playoff games, Knicks games.”
Harper also praised Wembanyama’s leadership after the 22-year-old helped guide San Antonio through a seven-game series.
“He’s been a great leader for us,” Harper said. “The things he says in the huddles, the locker room, the things he preaches, I mean, he backs it all up.”
Harper said Wembanyama’s preparation stood out even more behind the scenes.
“Just the dedication, effort he puts into his body, his mind, and the game is just unreal,” Harper said.
Even with emotions running high after ending Oklahoma City’s title defense, Harper insisted the Spurs are far from satisfied.
“We emptied the tank,” he said. “We don’t want to leave with no regrets.”
“I was ecstatic. I was happy,” Harper added. “We deserve to celebrate, but just know that for me in the back of my head like we got four — we got seven more.”
