By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-10-10 12:01:58
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。
圣安东尼奥马刺队新秀迪伦·哈珀预计将在周五对阵犹他爵士队的比赛中上演其 NBA 季前赛首秀，届时他将与前罗格斯大学队友埃斯·贝利重逢。
马刺新秀迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 期待着在周五晚间的霜冻银行中心迎来自己的 NBA 季前赛首秀，届时他将见到一张熟悉的面孔。
犹他爵士队的珍宝新秀埃斯·贝利 (Ace Bailey) 上赛季与哈珀同为罗格斯大学的大一新生，并肩作战。
两人不仅仅是大学队友。
“他就像我的兄弟，”哈珀说道。“去年我们每天都待在一起。能够再次见到他，在 NBA 赛场上第一次看到熟悉的面孔，这对我们俩来说都将意义非凡。”
在上个月接受左手拇指手术后，哈珀的康复进度喜人。这位 NBA 选秀榜眼在周五早上的投篮训练前获得了医疗许可，可以参加他的首场季前赛。
在第五顺位被选中的贝利，在周三犹他爵士队于休斯顿不敌对手的季前赛揭幕战中砍下 25 分，强势宣告了自己的到来。
健谈的贝利还因为与火箭队超级巨星凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 的一番垃圾话交流而在网上走红。
“那才是真实的他，一个纯粹的竞争者，”哈珀说。“他从不向任何人退缩。”
今年夏天早些时候，哈珀和贝利成为了罗格斯大学历史上选秀顺位最高的两名球员。对于哈珀来说，等待重返赛场的日子堪称煎熬。
2025 年 10 月 8 日，周三，在休斯顿举行的一场 NBA 季前赛下半场，犹他爵士队前锋埃斯·贝利（19 号）在休斯顿火箭队后卫阿隆·霍勒迪（0 号）的防守下投篮。（美联社图片/Ashley Landis）
作为一名充满活力的得分后卫，哈珀上个月在球队训练馆进行休赛期训练时，撕裂了其左手（投篮手）的一条韧带。
事实证明，哈珀的恢复能力惊人。
手术后的初步诊断表明，哈珀可能会缺席整个新秀赛季的季前赛。然而，他最终只会缺席两场比赛。
哈珀的季前赛将从受限的上场时间开始，并且他需要在他那经过手术修复的左手拇指上佩戴护具。
但至少，他将重返赛场。
“我已经等了两三个月才能上场打球，”哈珀说。“我真的非常兴奋。”
哈珀的队友们也很高兴能欢迎他回到场上。
由于后卫德阿龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox)、斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 和乔丹·麦克劳克林 (Jordan McLaughlin) 都因各种伤病缺阵，马刺队在季前赛初期一直缺少持球手。
在哈珀能够上场的时间里，他将为球队提供一个真正的主力后卫选择。
“他能回来真是太好了，我们可以开始和他一起打球，看看他能带来什么，”中锋卢克·科内特 (Luke Kornet) 说。
对哈珀而言，能在老友贝利也在场的情况下迎来自己的季前赛首秀，这种感觉美好得有些不真实。
当初，贝利正是哈珀承诺为罗格斯大学效力的主要原因之一。
在招募过程中，猩红骑士队教练史蒂夫·皮克尔 (Steve Pikiell) 曾接待贝利来访。期间，皮克尔一度让贝利与哈珀通电话，让他亲自出马进行招募。
“（贝利）在背景里大喊大叫，还是那个老样子，”哈珀回忆道。“他抢过电话就问我：‘你来不来？’”
哈珀和贝利定下了一个约定。
“我当时就说：‘你要是承诺加盟，那我也承诺，’”哈珀说。“所以当他早早做出承诺后，我就想：‘这下我可不能食言了。’”
点击查看原文：Spurs rookie Dylan Harper cleared for preseason debut
Spurs rookie Dylan Harper cleared for preseason debut
San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper is expected to make his NBA preseason debut Friday against the Utah Jazz and his former Rutgers teammate, Ace Bailey.
Spurs rookie Dylan Harper was looking forward to seeing a familiar face at the Frost Bank Center when he made his NBA preseason debut Friday night.
Ace Bailey, Utah’s prized rookie, played alongside Harper at Rutgers as freshmen last season.
The two were more than simply college teammates.
“That’s like my brother,” Harper said. “We hung out every day last year. Just getting to see him again, getting to see a familiar face for the first time on an NBA court, it’s going to be special for both of us.”
Having speedily progressed in his rehabilitation schedule following left thumb surgery last month, Harper — the NBA’s No. 2 overall draft pick — was medically cleared for his first preseason action before shootaround Friday morning.
Bailey, selected fifth overall, announced his presence by scoring 25 points in Utah’s preseason-opening loss at Houston on Wednesday.
The loquacious Bailey also went viral for engaging in a trash-talking exchange with Rockets superstar Kevin Durant.
“That’s really who he is, a competitor,” Harper said. “He don’t really back down from no one.”
Earlier this summer, Harper and Bailey became the two highest draft picks in Rutgers history. The wait to get on the court has been excruciating for Harper.
Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey (19) shoots against Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball preseason game in Houston, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A dynamic scoring guard, Harper tore a ligament in his left (shooting hand) during an offseason workout in the team’s practice gym last month.
It turns out Harper is a fast healer.
The initial prognosis after surgery said Harper would likely miss his entire rookie preseason. Instead, he will miss only two games.
Harper will begin his preseason with his minutes capped, and he will be required to wear a wrap around his surgically repaired left thumb.
But at least he will be on the court.
“I’ve been waiting to play for two or three months,” Harper said. “I’m definitely excited.”
Harper’s teammates are excited to welcome him to the floor.
With guards De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Jordan McLaughlin all out with various injuries, the Spurs have been devoid of ball-handlers at the outset of preseason.
Harper will afford the squad a true lead guard for as many minutes as he is available to play.
“It’s great to have him back and to just start playing with him and seeing what he can do,” center Luke Kornet said.
For Harper, the prospect of making his preseason debut with an old friend like Bailey in the building felt too good to be true.
Bailey was one of the main reasons Harper committed to play at Rutgers in the first place.
During the recruiting process, Scarlet Knights coach Steve Pikiell hosted Bailey for a visit. At one point, Pikiell put Bailey on the phone with Harper to do some recruiting of his own.
“(Bailey) was in the background yelling, just being Ace,” Harper said. “He grabbed the phone and was like, ‘You coming?’”
Harper made Bailey a deal.
“I was like, ‘If you commit, I’m going to commit,’” Harper said. “Once he committed early, I was like, ‘I can’t go back on my word with that one.’”
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News