By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-07-12 20:24:21
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。
拉斯维加斯 - 迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 周六早上醒来时，对终于能再次踏上赛场的前景充满兴奋。
“我很久没有这么兴奋地想打篮球了，”他说，“我巴不得赶紧回到场上。”
考虑到这位上个月选秀大会的榜眼秀在仅仅20分钟的时间里所展现出的能力，马刺球迷——更不用提维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 以及队中其他在托马斯&马克中心现场观战的老将们——恐怕自己也有些“心痒难耐”了，就像是说，“我们迫不及待想看看这孩子在正式比赛中能真正发挥出什么水平。”
哈珀砍下16分、6篮板、2助攻、2抢断和1盖帽，帮助马刺队战胜了状元秀库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 砍下的31分，在座无虚席、热情洋溢的观众面前，以76-69的比分击败达拉斯独行侠队，赢得了这场拉斯维加斯夏季联赛的比赛。
“还有什么比这更好的复出时机呢，面对如此沸腾的观众？”哈珀说，“他打得不错，我也打得不错。我们算是向NBA世界展示了我们的实力。”
这不仅是哈珀因轻微腹股沟伤势缺席上周三场加州经典赛以及球队周四在拉斯维加斯夏季联赛揭幕战中击败费城队的比赛之后，首次穿上马刺球衣亮相；这也是这位身高6英尺6英寸的后卫自3月13日在NCAA十大联盟锦标赛首轮被南加州大学淘汰以来的首次实战。
阔别赛场四个月确实让哈珀摩拳擦掌、跃跃欲试，但他表示“开球后就感觉回到了正常的篮球比赛”。马刺队限制了他的上场时间，但他表示自己“只是很高兴能再次打篮球”。
“我现在可以靠打篮球谋生了，所以我可能整场比赛都在笑，”他说。
马刺队内的其他所有人也都是如此。
“迪伦表现得很棒，”马刺夏季联赛主教练迈克·诺耶斯 (Mike Noyes) 说，“我们知道他已经准备好了。他全神贯注，很高兴看到他穿上马刺球衣。”
夏季联赛马刺队的得分手戴维·琼斯-加西亚 (David Jones-Garcia) 替补出战，拿下全队最高的21分，但所有人的目光都聚焦在哈珀身上。
这位新泽西州本土球员在比赛的第一分钟就通过一次突破拿到了他的第一分，最终独行侠队被判干扰球。他的第二粒进球同样来自于突破，当时他将小贾米尔·尼尔森 (Jameer Nelson Jr.) 在禁区内的击地传球转化成一次突破上篮，打穿了来自孟菲斯大学、身高6英尺11英寸的落选新秀穆萨·西塞 (Moussa Cisse) 的防守。
哈珀投篮12投5中，但三分球4投全失。他罚球7罚6中。
“我只是努力做出正确的选择，”他说，“无论它是否体现在数据统计上，我都会上场去做出正确的选择，做我认为对球队最好的事情。从效率上看，我认为我今天表现得不错。我本可以做得更好，但我认为我打得还行。”
哈珀还展现了他的防守能力，在转换进攻中高高跃起，用左手完成一次对身高6英尺的落选后卫瑞安·内姆布哈德 (Ryan Nembhard) 突破尝试的盖帽，随后他摔倒在地。
“如果你不防守，你就不会在场上，”哈珀说，“我只是尽力而为，学习新东西，如何绕过掩护，如何防守持球人。这绝对是我希望成长并不断进步的领域。”
诺耶斯表示，“我们知道他是一名攻防一体的球员。我们和所有人一样对他的进攻感到兴奋，但我们也对他在防守端带来的东西感到非常兴奋。”
哈珀并不是唯一一个在对阵达拉斯的比赛中表现突出的新秀。就像他两天前对阵76人队时一样，卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant)——这位来自亚利桑那州、在第14顺位被选中的身高6英尺7英寸的前锋——是一个具有很强破坏力的存在。
令现场的马刺球迷欣喜的是，布莱恩特在第一节就让弗拉格感到沮丧，他在外线进行了窒息式的防守，最终导致这位杜克大学校友出现失误。但这并没有就此结束，整个比赛中，布莱恩特都在让弗拉格疲于奔命。
“他整场比赛看起来一点都不累，”弗拉格说，“他全程都对我进行全场紧逼（94英尺）。我确实感觉有点筋疲力尽了，但他一直在场上进行着非常棒的防守，对抗性很强。”
布莱恩特表示，他很兴奋能与弗拉格“一较高下”，弗拉格全场21投10中，其中一次得分是内姆布哈德的长传空接扣篮，另一次则是在转换进攻中，面对马刺前锋莱利·米尼克斯 (Riley Minix) 完成的雷霆万钧般的扣篮。
“库普是个了不起的球员，”布莱恩特说，“你当然想和世界上最好的球员竞争。”
布莱恩特的另一个防守亮点是，他抢断了前奥本大学后卫迈尔斯·凯利 (Miles Kelly) 传给西塞的空接球。
诺耶斯谈到卡特时说，“他能够像最优秀的防守者一样覆盖广阔的防守区域。很难在他身上得分。”
布莱恩特在投篮方面仍在挣扎——他对阵达拉斯的比赛中投篮7投0中，其中三分球5投0中，此前他对阵费城时三分球4投1中——但他相信自己最终会找回手感。
“我从四五岁起就一直以同样的方式投篮，”布莱恩特说，“球会进的。我相信我将成为这个联盟中最好的射手之一。”
马刺队的下一场比赛将是周一晚对阵犹他爵士队，届时可能会对阵5号秀埃斯·贝利 (Ace Bailey)，他曾在罗格斯大学与哈珀并肩作战。贝利因右侧髋屈肌酸痛连续缺席两场比赛后，此役出战成疑。
至于哈珀，诺耶斯对他的再次出场表示乐观。
“我必须和我们的训练团队谈谈，但我认为会一切顺利，”诺耶斯说。
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives against Josh Uduje #36 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks is fouled by Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs tries to secure his own rebound against Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks is fouled by Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs smiles while guarding Ryan Nembhard #9 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs tries to secure his own rebound against Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
点击查看原文：'Locked in' Dylan Harper shines in limited time in Summer League debut
‘Locked in’ Dylan Harper shines in limited time in Summer League debut
LAS VEGAS - Dylan Harper woke up Saturday morning excited about the prospect of finally getting to play in a game again.
“It’s about as hyped as I’ve been in a little minute to play basketball,” he said. “I was itching to get back out on the court.”
Considering what the No. 2 overall pick of last month’s draft was able to do in just 20 minutes, Spurs fans - not to mention Victor Wembanyama and the other veteran members of the team in attendance at Thomas & Mack Center - are probably doing some “itching” themselves, as in, 'We can’t wait to see what this kid can do when the games count for real."
Harper had 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block to help the Spurs overcome No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg’s 31 points and score a 76-69 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the Las Vegas Summer League in front of an energized packed house.
“What better time to come back then in a game like this with the crowd electrified?” Harper said. “He had a good game. I had a good game. We kind of just showed the NBA world what we’re about.”
In addition to being Harper’s first game in a Spurs uniform after a minor groin issue forced him to sit out the three-game California Classic last week and the team’s win over Philadelphia on Thursday in their Vegas opener, it was the 6-foot-6 guard’s first action since Rutgers was eliminated by Southern Cal in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 13.
Four months away from game action indeed had Harper raring to go, but he said it “felt like regular basketball after the ball went up.” The Spurs restricted his minutes, but he said he was “just happy to play basketball again.”
“I get to play it for a living now, so I was probably smiling the whole game,” he said.
As was everyone else with the Spurs organization.
“Dylan did great,” Spurs Summer League coach Mike Noyes said. “We knew he was ready to do. He was locked in and it was great to see him in a Spurs uniform.”
Summer Spurs scoring sensation David Jones-Garcia had a team-high 21 points off the bench, but all eyes were on Harper.
The New Jersey native collected his first points in the game’s first minute on a drive that ended with the Mavericks getting called for goaltending. His second bucket also came on a drive, when he converted a bounce pass in the paint from Jameer Nelson Jr. into a driving layup over Moussa Cisse, a 6-foot-11 undrafted rookie from Memphis.
Harper connected on 5 of 12 from the field but missed all four of his 3-point tries. He was 6 of 7 from the line.
“I was just trying to make the right plays,” he said. “No matter if it show up in the stat sheet or not, I’m going to go out there and make the right play and just do what I feel is the best for the team. Efficiency-wise, I think I did well today. I could have did better, but I think I did well.”
Harper also showed off his defensive skills, soaring high for a left-handed block on a driving attempt by 6-foot undrafted guard Ryan Nembhard in transition before tumbling to the floor.
“If you don’t play defense, you’re not going to be in the court,” Harper said. “Just trying my best, just learning new stuff, how to go over screens, guard the ball. It is definitely an area I look to grow in and just keep on getting better at.”
Said Noyes, “We know he is a two-way player. We are excited as everyone is for his offense, but we are also extremely excited about what he brings defensively.”
Harper wasn’t the only rookie who stood out against Dallas. Just as he did against the 76ers two days ago, Carter Bryant, the 6-foot-7 forward from Arizona selected 14th overall, was a disruptive force.
Much to the delight of Spurs fans in crowd, Bryant frustrated Flagg in the first quarter with smothering coverage on the perimeter that ended with the Duke alumnus committing a turnover. But it didn’t stop there. Throughout the game, Bryant made Flagg work.
“He didn’t look tired at all the whole game,” Flagg said. “He was picking me up for 94 (feet). I was definitely feeling a little bit gassed, but he was just out there playing great defense the whole way, physical.”
Bryant said he was excited to see how he could “measure up” against Flagg, who finished 10 for 21 from the field, with one bucket coming on an alley-oop dunk on a long feed from Nembhard and another on a thundering slam against Spurs forward Riley Minix in transition.
“Coop’s a hell of a player,” Bryant said. “You want to compete against the best in the world.”
Another defensive gem from Bryant came when he intercepted an alley-oop pass from former Auburn guard Miles Kelly intended for Cisse.
“He can cover ground with the best of them,” Noyes said of Carter. “It’s hard to score against him.”
Bryant continues to struggle with his shot - he was 0 for 7 from the field against Dallas, including 0 for 5 from 3-point territory after going 1 for 4 against Philadelphia - but he’s confident he will eventually find his range.
“I’ve been shooting the basketball the same exact way since I was like four or five years old,” Bryant said. “It’s going to fall. I believe that I’m going to be one of the best shooters in this league.”
Up next for the Spurs is a Monday night game against the Utah Jazz and possibly No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey, who starred alongside Harper at Rutgers. Bailey is questionable after missing two games in a row with right hip flexor soreness.
As for Harper, Noyes expressed optimism that he will play again.
“I have got to talk to our training staff, but I would assume smooth sailing,” Noyes said.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News