By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-06-28 14:15:46
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2025年6月28日星期六，圣安东尼奥马刺队的首轮选秀球员，左起卡特·布莱恩特和迪伦·哈珀在圣安东尼奥胜利资本训练中心举行的圣安东尼奥马刺队2025年选秀新秀室外球迷见面会上登台亮相。
可以这么说，卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) 当时已经受够了。
回溯到2021年，这位马刺新秀在高中二年级前的那个夏天，正参加一场AAU锦标赛。对方阵中一名“扫把头”发型的后卫，不断地得分，让布莱恩特 (Bryant) 所在的球队疲于奔命。
布莱恩特 (Bryant) 通常被指派防守对方中锋，但他向教练提出请求：“让我来防守那家伙吧。”
布莱恩特 (Bryant) 回忆道：“我告诉教练，‘我向你保证我能防住他。’”
听到布莱恩特 (Bryant) 的恳求，那个得分如探囊取物的后卫走了过来，插了一句嘴。
“他说，‘我向你保证，你防不住。’”布莱恩特 (Bryant) 说道。
那就是卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) 首次遇见迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 的日子。
四年后，这对昔日的“亦敌亦友”在周六并肩携手走进了马刺队崭新的胜利资本训练中心，他们被介绍为俱乐部不断壮大的青少年乐透区选秀球员名单中的新成员。
哈珀 (Harper)，一名身高6英尺6英寸的活力型后卫，马刺队在周三的选秀大会上以榜眼签选中了他，他来自罗格斯大学。他被认为是未来的潜力新星。如果不是2023年维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 的到来，他本将成为马刺队近25年来最受瞩目的选秀球员。
布莱恩特 (Bryant)，一名身高6英尺7英寸的前锋，来自亚利桑那大学，在第14顺位被选中。他有望成长为NBA球队如饥似渴、求贤若渴的那种“3D”型球员。
这对19岁的新秀搭档，立志要帮助马刺队结束长达六个赛季的季后赛荒，这是队史最长的季后赛荒。
“这很快就会改变。”哈珀 (Harper) 说道，言语中透着布莱恩特 (Bryant) 第一次在AAU赛场上见到的那股狂傲劲儿，“我们一定会打进季后赛的。”
对于哈珀 (Harper) 和布莱恩特 (Bryant) 来说，以队友身份共同迈出篮球生涯的下一步，让这份努力变得更加甜蜜。
自从四年前那次“不光彩”的初次相遇以来，两人之间的友谊不断加深。
“我们的情谊在一次次训练营、一支支球队之间不断加深、发展，总是形影不离。”哈珀 (Harper) 说道，“我觉得我和他无论在场上还是场下都很有默契。”
尽管他们成长在美国东西海岸——哈珀 (Harper) 在新泽西州的富兰克林湖，布莱恩特 (Bryant) 在加利福尼亚州的河滨市——这对搭档经常讨论在大学联手的事。
但那并没有实现，两人都选择在各自所在的地区度过大学新生赛季。
当时没能成行。现在，一切即将成真。
“这一天等了很久了。”布莱恩特 (Bryant) 说道，“高中时我们经常聊起未来某一天一起打球的可能性。能和他一起参加选秀，而且我们俩都能进入乐透区，并且代表圣安东尼奥，这太酷了。”
周三的选秀大会在布鲁克林进行时，哈珀 (Harper) 正在巴克莱中心后台与来自圣安东尼奥的记者会面。此时，附近一台电视机里传出新闻，马刺队用第14号签选中了布莱恩特 (Bryant)。
哈珀 (Harper) 中断了自己的采访，为马刺队的决定鼓掌。
“卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant)，好样的！”哈珀 (Harper) 惊呼。
如今，哈珀 (Harper) 和布莱恩特 (Bryant) 在圣安东尼奥聚首，准备加入NBA最令人兴奋的年轻核心阵容之一。
包括这两位新成员在内，球队预计排名前十的球员中，有六人年龄都在23岁或以下。其中两人——文班亚马 (Wembanyama) 和去年的4号秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle)——更是连续两届NBA年度最佳新秀的得主。
“这支球队有巨大的成长空间。”布莱恩特 (Bryant) 说道，“我想有一天你会发现，我们已经成为站在联盟巅峰的王朝球队之一了。”
哈珀 (Harper) 和布莱恩特 (Bryant) 都出身于篮球世家。
哈珀 (Harper) 的父亲是五届NBA总冠军得主罗恩·哈珀 (Ron Harper)。他的哥哥小罗恩·哈珀 (Ron Jr.) 则效力于底特律活塞队。他的母亲玛丽亚 (Maria) 曾效力于新奥尔良大学校队，并从迪伦 (Dylan) 小时候起就担任他的教练。
2025年6月28日星期六，在圣安东尼奥胜利资本训练中心举行的圣安东尼奥马刺队2025年选秀新秀新闻发布会上，圣安东尼奥马刺队首轮选秀球员迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 回应了关于他是否会说西班牙语的问题。
布莱恩特 (Bryant) 的父亲德塞恩 (D’Cean) 曾效力于长滩州立大学，目前在河滨市的马丁·路德·金高中担任助理教练，他曾执教过科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard)。
马刺队总经理布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright) 说道：“最棒的是，当他们第一次听到关于篮球的严厉教诲或者真相时，这些并不是来自我们或教练。他们在家里就已经接受了这些——你必须多么努力，成为伟大球员需要付出什么，以及为了成就伟大事业而牺牲意味着什么。”
在哈珀 (Harper) 看来，这两位马刺新面孔的目标很简单。
“我想我们俩都只想按照最适合自己的方式融入球队。”他说道。
对于哈珀 (Harper) 和布莱恩特 (Bryant) 来说，这与四年前他们初次见面时有所不同——那时他们的目标是尽情展现自我，脱颖而出。
哈珀 (Harper) 对他初次与布莱恩特 (Bryant) 相遇的场景记忆犹新，原因显而易见。
“哦，我们赢了。”哈珀 (Harper) 周六说道，然后转向直接调侃他这位马刺新队友。
“我们赢了多少分来着？”哈珀 (Harper) 问布莱恩特 (Bryant)。“好像是15分还是16分。我们肯定赢了。”
如果一切按计划进行，哈珀 (Harper) 和布莱恩特 (Bryant) 希望在未来能一起赢球，穿着马刺队的银黑战袍。
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Dylan Harper greets fans as he comes outside for a fan player introduction of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
Former Spur Sean Elliott, from left, interviews the Spurs’ first round draft picks Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper during an outdoor fan introduction of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Dylan Harper answers questions during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ Carter Bryant greet fans as he enters the court during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Dylan Harper receives his jersey from general manager Brian Wright during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Carter Bryant receives his jersey from general manager Brian Wright during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper, front, and Carter Bryant greet fans as they enter the court during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Carter Bryant answers questions during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Carter Bryant answers questions during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ Dylan Harper, front, and Carter Bryant greet fans as they enter the court during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Carter Bryant answers questions at the table in front of children from Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Carter Bryant receives his jersey from general manager Brian Wright during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ Carter Bryant signs to members of the Sunshine Cottage school for Deaf Children sitting next to him during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Dylan Harper answers questions during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
Rafael Cruz holds his one-year-old daughter, Loa Cruz, above his head while waiting for the outdoor fan introduction of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
The Spurs Coyote plays to the crowd at the outdoor fan introduction of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
The Spurs Coyote greets fans at the outdoor introduction of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Carter Bryant greets fans as he comes outside for a fan player introduction of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
Spurs fans attend an outdoor player introduction of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
点击查看原文：Spurs rookies Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant excited to be teammates
Spurs rookies Dylan Harper, Carter Bryant excited to be teammates
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft picks Carter Bryant, left, and Dylan Harper onstage during an outdoor fan introduction of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
It is fair to say Carter Bryant had seen enough.
Back in 2021, the new Spurs rookie was playing in an AAU tournament the summer before his sophomore year of high school. A certain mop-topped guard on the other team was relentlessly wearing out Bryant’s squad with basket after basket.
Typically assigned to defend opposing centers, Bryant approached his coach with a request: Let me guard that guy.
“I told the coach, ‘I promise you I can stop him,’ ” Bryant recalled.
Overhearing Bryant’s plea, the bucket-getting guard in question wandered over to chime in his two cents.
“He said, ‘I promise you, you can’t,’ ” Bryant said.
That was the day Carter Bryant first met Dylan Harper.
Four years later, the two former frenemies entered the Spurs’ sparkling Victory Capital Performance Center side-by-side Saturday, introduced as next in the club’s lengthening line of teenage lottery draft picks.
Harper, a dynamic 6-foot-6 guard the Spurs selected second overall out of Rutgers on Wednesday, is billed as a future star in the making. He would have been the Spurs’ most ballyhooed pick of the past quarter century had it not been for the arrival of Victor Wembanyama in 2023.
Bryant, a 6-7 forward taken 14th overall from Arizona, is positioned to blossom into exactly type of “3-and-D” role players NBA teams crave like oxygen.
Together, the pair of 19-year-old rookies are bent on helping the Spurs end a six-year playoff drought that remains the longest in franchise history.
“That’s going to change quick,” Harper said, displaying the bravado Bryant first observed on the AAU court. “We’re making the playoffs.”
For Harper and Bryant, the prospect of tackling the next step in their basketball careers as teammates makes the endeavor all the sweeter.
Since their ignominious introduction four years ago, the two have maintained a burgeoning friendship.
“Our bond just kept growing and growing from camp to camp, to team to team, just always being with each other and around each other,” Harper said. “I think me and him just kind of connected on and off the court.”
Though they grew up on opposite coasts — Harper in Franklin Lakes, N.J., and Bryant in Riverside, Calif., — the pair talked often about joining forces in college.
That didn’t pan out, with both players opting to remain on their respective sides of the country for their freshman seasons.
It didn’t work out then. It is about to work out now.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Bryant said. “We had a lot of conversations throughout high school about maybe playing together at some point. For him to be my draft buddy, and being able to both go in the lottery and be able to represent San Antonio is dope.”
As Wednesday’s draft moved along in Brooklyn, Harper was backstage at the Barclays Center meeting with reporters from San Antonio when a nearby television blared the news that the Spurs were using the 14th pick on Bryant.
Harper interrupted his own interview to applaud the Spurs’ decision.
“Carter Bryant, man!” Harper exclaimed.
Now together in San Antonio, Harper and Bryant are poised to join one of the most exciting young cores in the NBA.
Including the two newcomers, six of the team’s projected top 10 players are age 23 or younger. Two of those — Wembanyama and last year’s No. 4 overall pick, Stephon Castle — are back-to-back NBA Rookie of the Year winners.
“There’s so much room for growth on this team,” Bryant said. “I think you’re going to look up one day and we’re going to be one of those dynasties at the top of the mountaintop.”
Both Harper and Bryant come from basketball-oriented families.
Harper’s father is five-time NBA champion Ron Harper. His brother, Ron. Jr., plays for the Detroit Pistons. His mother, Maria, played collegiately at New Orleans and has coached Dylan since youth ball.
San Antonio Spurs’ first round draft pick Dylan Harper reacts to a question asking if he knows any Spanish during a press conference to introduce the San Antonio Spurs’ 2025 Draft picks at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
Bryant’s father, D’Cean, played at Long Beach State and is an assistant coach at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, where he once coached Kawhi Leonard.
“What’s great is the first time that they’re hearing a tough message or the truth about basketball, it isn’t coming from us or coming from a coach,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said. “They get that at home — how hard you have to work, what it takes to be great, what it means to sacrifice to be part of something great.”
The way Harper sees it, the goal for the Spurs’ two freshest faces remains simple.
“I think both of us just want to fit in how we’re going to fit in,” he said.
For Harper and Bryant, that is a little bit different from their first meeting four years ago — when the object was to stand out how they stand out.
Harper has fond memories of his initial introduction to Bryant, for obvious reasons.
“Oh, we won,” Harper said Saturday before turning to rib his new Spurs teammate directly.
“How much did we win by?” Harper asked Bryant. “It was like 15 or 16. We definitely won.”
If all goes to plan, Harper and Bryant hope to do their next batch of winning together, in silver and black.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News