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SAN ANTONIO — Dylan Harper's wish to play alongside De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the San Antonio Spurs' starting lineup was granted, though not as swiftly as he might have hoped. A late scratch sidelined Fox for the preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks, postponing the debut of the three-guard alignment. Now, with the Spurs preparing to face the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, the trio is poised for another chance to demonstrate their on-court chemistry.
The experiment has been eagerly anticipated. Harper, who started only four games during his rookie campaign, showcased his ability to handle an expanded role during San Antonio's march to the NBA Finals. The central question revolved around how he would mesh with two established starters. Head coach Mitch Johnson provided clarity before the preseason opener, inserting Harper, Castle, and Fox into his first five. Although Fox's absence delayed the group's unveiling, it did not shake Johnson's belief in their potential. Should Fox take the floor against Phoenix, Johnson will have an opportunity to validate his confidence.
"They are extremely dynamic and talented," Johnson remarked on Thursday. "It's as much as allowing them to be on the court and learn how to complement and play with each other (as it is) us as a staff ... to put them in situations and environments to be successful."
For Harper, the appeal is straightforward. All three guards possess the ability to penetrate, create scoring chances for teammates, and force opposing defenses into difficult choices. However, their collective success hinges on more than individual talent. Johnson highlighted the speed and athleticism of his guards, stressing the significance of proper spacing, ball movement, and shot selection. San Antonio boasts numerous offensive creators, but maximizing their impact requires teammates to grasp their roles within the same system.
"It's a delicate ecosystem," Johnson explained. "It's the Julians (Champagnie) and the Devins (Vassell) and the Harrisons (Barnes) sprinting all the way to the corner to create gravity that way. It's Victor (Wembanyama), obviously, in a variety of ways."
Wembanyama, whose mere presence draws defensive attention, has no qualms about adjusting his role to help the guard trio thrive. "It's the key to our offense," the Frenchman said. "It's not too hard."
Beyond spacing, the Spurs must also score in alternative ways—particularly from the perimeter—to prevent defenders from abandoning assignments to help against attacking guards. Harper's outside shooting introduces another variable. He shot 34.3 percent from beyond the arc last season, the highest among him, Castle, and Fox, but Johnson believes the second-year player has already made strides. "He's shown improvement since the start of his rookie year," Johnson said. "Whether it's the consistency of the mechanics or the percentages ... they're heading in the right direction."
The coach also commended Harper's work ethic and natural talent, noting that his next step involves recognizing where his opportunities will arise within San Antonio's offense. As the game slows down for him, those decisions should become more instinctive. Harper, meanwhile, acknowledged that rebounding and getting stops will be essential if San Antonio wants to turn defensive possessions into transition opportunities. "The only way we can get out and run is if we get stops," Harper said. "The defensive side of the ball ... is definitely a big emphasis (for us). Just getting stops and running."
Fox, Castle, and Harper played just 25 minutes together during the regular season and another 44 in the playoffs, posting negative net ratings in both samples. Neither provides enough evidence to determine whether the combination can succeed over a full season. Johnson plans to use the preseason to experiment with lineups. Wembanyama can continue building chemistry with his guards, and Harper can adjust to the responsibilities that come with joining the starting lineup.
San Antonio won't be exempt from growing pains. Even so, Harper isn't particularly concerned about how the pieces will fit. He believes the trio's unselfishness and ability to create mismatches will make those adjustments worthwhile. He doesn't see a world in which he, Castle, and Fox don't make it work. "We're going to be really hard to guard," Harper said. "It's going to be great."