Filipino-American talent shines: Dylan Harper, son of NBA champion, joins San Antonio Spurs

Another promising second-generation talent, Filipino-American Dylan Harper, is set to make his mark in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The standout guard from Rutgers University was selected second overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Draft held Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

This momentous occasion marks a proud moment for the Filipino-American basketball community, as Harper matches the historic feat of Jalen Green, who was also drafted second overall in 2021 by the Houston Rockets.

Dylan Harper carries a rich basketball lineage, being the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper. His mother, Maria Pizarro Harper, is a Filipina who was born in Bataan and migrated to the U.S. at a young age. Maria, a former University of New Orleans basketball player and longtime coach, has been a significant influence on Dylan’s journey, even coaching him from first grade all the way to high school.

Standing at 6-foot-4 1⁄2, Harper now joins a highly promising young Spurs roster that includes back-to-back NBA Rookie of the Year winners Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama. This trio is expected to form the cornerstone of San Antonio’s future, as the team continues its rebuild and aims to return to championship contention.

Speaking exclusively to ABS-CBN News, Dylan’s mother, Maria Pizzaro Harper, opened up about the dedication and sacrifices her son made to achieve his NBA dream.

 “His work ethic was relentless. Early mornings in the gym… sometimes waking up at 4 AM just to train before school,” she shared. “He missed all the things that teenagers normally do — prom, hanging out with friends — because he gave himself 1000% to the game.”

SAN ANTONIO ADDS ANOTHER YOUNG PIECE

The @spurs select Dylan Harper with the second pick in the 2025 #NBADraft! pic.twitter.com/xCtFj0s1Q0

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 26, 2025

Dylan, whose mother instilled in him strong Filipino values, expressed the significance of representing his heritage in the league. “It definitely is surreal… just me wanting to rep them and show my colors and truly who I am. So it’s definitely great,” Harper stated. 

His grandmother, Lilia Pizarro, was visibly emotional, echoing the family’s pride: “Masayang masaya ako na na-achieve niya ang dream niya since childhood. He’s always been determined and a perfectionist even as a little boy.”

In his lone collegiate season at Rutgers, Harper averaged an impressive 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, showcasing his versatile skillset as a combo guard. Scouts have praised his feel for the game, playmaking vision, and defensive commitment.

With San Antonio having produced the last two Rookie of the Year winners, Harper expressed his ambition to continue that streak. “It’s definitely a goal of mine. With teammates like this, they’ll make it easy for me to showcase what I can do,” he said.

Dylan Harper’s lottery selection adds another proud chapter to the growing legacy of Filipino Americans in the NBA, a dream now realized for the young guard and the community he so proudly represents. 

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.